Return of the King

Tue 25 Nov 2025

Winner 73 of 2025: THE DRAGON KING, trained by Clive Cox and ridden by Hector Crouch. The ‘Best Odds Guaranteed at BetMGM Handicap’ over 7f at Wolverhampton.

 Purchased for just 21.000 Guineas as a yearling, he was a brilliant 2-year-old for connections, a winner of 3 from his 6 starts last season, including the very valuable £150,000 Tattersalls October Auction Stakes. So, it was brilliant to see him back in the winners' enclosure just over a year after his exhilarating victory at the Rowley Mile.

 After two good runs in defeat, Clive was extremely bullish about our chances, which meant we had a large crowd of owners in attendance at Wolverhampton Racecourse. Hector Crouch was asked to settle him out at the back of the field in the early stages of the race. Despite being forced wide around the bend, he travelled best in the home straight and was always doing enough in the closing stages.

Watch the full race replay here: https://www.attheraces.com/racecard/Wolverhampton/24-November-2025/1900

Timeform rated his victory with a t94.

Clive was delighted with that performance: "I was glad that they went a good gallop so he could switch off out the back, but it meant we had to come wide to avoid traffic issues in the home straight. But he was incredibly willing and did it easily in the end. Very happy with him and he gives us plenty to look forward to over the winter."

Tom Palin, Syndicate Manager, this morning: "Congratulations on his victory. This was very well deserved. First and foremost for the horse, but of course for the trainer and his owners. It was a bit of an up-and-down, mixed summer season. It took us a few starts this year to fully suss him out and mend a few issues, but we are definitely on the up again, with plenty of opportunities now coming his way this winter. Fantastic to see him back in the winners' enclosure, with so many owners in attendance; A very well-deserved victory."

Find the official winning photos via the link here: https://www.jahphoto.co.uk/-/galleries/wolverhampton-horse-racing-2025/november-2025/24th-november-2025/race-6