With the 2025 Flat season fast approaching, anticipation is building around the potential stars of the year. From rising talents with Classic aspirations to exciting dark horses, here are some of the most promising contenders to follow this season.
Bet on Horse Racing with William Hill
Marshman
Marshman, trained by Karl Burke, has enjoyed a highly successful all-weather campaign, securing victories in both Class 1 and Class 2 races, including the Kachy Stakes (Listed) at Lingfield, where he finished ahead of the likes of Mitbaahy and Annaf. Most recently, he was only half a length behind Clarendon House in the Hever Sprint Stakes at Southwell.
It’s a long season for sprinters, and there are plenty of potential targets for him. Having beaten high-quality opposition over the winter, he could well be stepped up to Group 3 company in due course. However, he may not be one to watch for too long, as he’s already as short as 10/3 for the William Hill Best Odds Guaranteed Cammidge Trophy.
Hotazhell
Hotazhell, winner of the William Hill Futurity Trophy at Doncaster last season, is certainly one to watch for the Classics based on his form. The Jessica Harrington-trained colt finished ahead of Aidan O’Brien’s Group 3 Autumn Stakes winner Delacroix, as well as James Owen’s Royal Lodge winner Wimbledon Hawkeye.
The Futurity Trophy has produced multiple Classic winners, most recently Auguste Rodin, who won the race in 2022 before going on to triumph in the Epsom Derby. Hotazhell is currently priced at 25/1 for the 2000 Guineas and 40/1 for the Epsom Derby. Having already secured victories at Group 3, Group 2, and Group 1 level as a juvenile, he is undoubtedly one to follow this season.
Opera Ballo
Opera Ballo has been generating significant attention following his first two starts for Godolphin. Both runs came at Kempton, where he won decisively on each occasion, finishing strongly and looking like an improving type. Currently 14/1 in the 2000 Guineas market, he could be an exciting contender for the Classics.
Charlie Appleby, who won last year’s 2000 Guineas with Notable Speech, will be hoping for another strong hand in this year’s renewal. Alongside Opera Ballo, his three-year-olds Shadow Of Light, Ancient Truth, and Ruling Court all look to have promising campaigns ahead.
Sunway
The David Menuisier-trained four-year-old showed incredibly promising signs in his two-year-old season, beating the likes of 2024 Irish 2,000 Guineas winner Rosallion and now two-time Group winner Alcantor.
He began his three-year-old campaign in his trainer’s native France, where he didn’t quite live up to expectations and was twice a beaten favourite. The switch over the English Channel seemed to do the trick, though, as he finished ¾ length behind Los Angeles to take second in the Irish Derby.
It was Group One action for the rest of the season, a realm in which he certainly didn’t disgrace himself despite never getting his head in front. Fourth in the King George at Ascot (ahead of Auguste Rodin, no less) and third in the St Leger followed, before a slightly underwhelming run saw him finish 10th in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe to close his season.
His four-year-old campaign is likely to see him compete for all the biggest prizes, and there’s no doubt Menuisier will have him primed and ready for another crack at the major Group One contests. He has all the hallmarks of a horse that will improve as a four-year-old, and he might just be up to landing a big prize in 2025.
Socialite
A slightly darker horse in the form of Socialite, a four-year-old gelding by Too Darn Hot, could be an exciting prospect for Charles Hills. He was narrowly beaten by Lead Artist in the Sir Henry Cecil Stakes last July and has since been gelded— a positive move given his tendency to race fresh and keen, as seen in the Group 3 Bonhams Thoroughbred Stakes at Goodwood, where Lead Artist was the victor.
Having already won over seven furlongs, he possesses the speed, making him one to watch with the pedigree to develop into a top-class miler. With the benefit of gelding, he has every chance of progressing from a promising three-year-old into a successful four-year-old.
Bet on English Classics with William Hill
