You know how punters get lost in too much data or bet blindly? I break down the stats and trends so you can feel confident youâre betting with more than just gut instinct.
2025 May Hill Stakes Preview
Run at the St Leger Festival at Doncaster racecourse in September of each year, the May Hill Stakes is open to two-year-old fillies only. The race was upgraded to a Group 2 in 2003 and is run over a straight one-mile course.
For sponsorship purposes, the 2025 renewal of the May Hill Stakes will hold the title of 'Betfred May Hill Stakes'.
May Hill Stakes Information:
To see which runners the OLBG racing tipsters are tipping throughout the card that includes this race, head over to the Doncaster tips on the day of the race. Do they agree with the runners on the trend shortlist, or are they predicting other runners? You may also be interested in other preview blogs that we have packed full of information. Head down to the Other Principal races during the Doncaster St Leger Festival section for links to these.
Best Horse Racing Betting Sites 2025
How competitive is the May Hill Stakes market? When looking at the over-rounds for the last 20 renewals, the most competitive market was in 2021 when the race had an over-round of 110%. The race in 2007 was a race that was most in the bookie's favour with an over-round of 120%, whilst on average over the last 20 renewals of the May Hill Stakes, the over-round has been 114%, which means the bookie expects to pay out £100 for every £114 which is bet.
Below you will find the 2025 May Hill Stakes Trends. See which patterns have occurred over the recent renewals that you may be able to use for the next renewal. We also have a section that looks at the May Hill Stakes Trend Analysis. With the field now finalised, we have the May Hill Stakes Trend Shortlist, which is created using the listed trends.
These are the top three quickest-run May Hill Stakes races over the last 20 renewals:
- Nasheej (1:36.67) in 2005
- Turret Rocks (1:36.82) in 2015
- Agnes Stewart (1:37.20) in 2014
Looking at the future form, is the winner worth following next time out? Over the past 20 renewals, if you had followed the winner of the May Hill Stakes next time out, then you would have backed a total of 8 winners. Backing all 20 runners who have been out since their win at SP next time out would have returned an LSP of +6.43. Whilst we wait for the 2025 May Hill Stakes, remember you can get daily racing predictions from the expert tipsters on the racing predictions page.
The runner that holds the record over the past 20 renewals for the slowest time in the race was set in the 2013 renewal when Ihtimal from Saeed bin Suroor under the guidance of Silvestre De Sousa, won in a time of 1:43.30, whilst at the other end of the spectrum, Nasheej, trained by Richard Hannon Snr and ridden by Richard Hughes set the quickest time of 1:36.67 in the 2005 renewal.
May Hill Stakes Past Winners
Here are the May Hill Stakes' past winners for the last 10 renewals. Each row details the year of the race, the horse which won, along with the age & weight of the horse. Also detailed is the stall where the horse came from and the total number of runners in the race. The horse's trainer and the jockey at the time of winning the May Hill Stakes are also displayed, along with the starting price at which the horse was sent off.
| Year | Horse (Drawn) | Info |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 1:37.47 | Desert Flower (IRE) 2yo 9-2 (3 of 9) 1/1F | William Buick Charlie Appleby (GB) |
| 2023 1:41.38 | Darnation (IRE) 2yo 9-2 (3 of 7) 11/10F | Clifford Lee K R Burke (GB) |
| 2022 1:38.34 | Polly Pott (GB) 2yo 9-2 (7 of 8) 40/1 | Daniel Tudhope Harry Dunlop (GB) |
| 2021 1:37.47 | Inspiral (GB) 2yo 9-0 (5 of 6) 2/9F | Frankie Dettori John & Thady Gosden (GB) |
| 2020 1:38.84 | Indigo Girl (GB) 2yo 9-0 (9 of 9) 100/30 | Frankie Dettori John Gosden (GB) |
| 2019 1:39.31 | Powerful Breeze (GB) 2yo 9-0 (1 of 9) 6/1 | James Doyle Hugo Palmer (GB) |
| 2018 1:38.71 | Fleeting (IRE) 2yo 9-0 (1 of 11) 12/1 | Donnacha O'Brien A P O'Brien (IRE) |
| 2017 1:40.06 | Laurens (FR) 2yo 9-0 (4 of 8) 11/4F | P J McDonald K R Burke (GB) |
| 2016 1:41.24 | Rich Legacy (IRE) 2yo 9-0 (7 of 9) 3/1 | Oisin Murphy Ralph Beckett (GB) |
| 2015 1:36.82 | Turret Rocks (IRE) 2yo 9-0 (2 of 8) 7/2 | Kevin Manning J S Bolger (IRE) |
Where have the winning runners come from?
Here are the countries where the winning trainers of the May Hill Stakes have been based:
- GB: 17 winners with an additional 32 placings from 150 runners
- IRE: 3 winners with an additional 1 placing from 14 runners
May Hill Stakes Trainer Statistics
The leading trainer in the May Hill Stakes over the last 20 renewals is K R Burke, who has won the race two times, with those two winners coming from Laurens (2017) and Darnation (2023).
Here are the May Hill Stakes trainer statistics over the last 20 renewals for trainers who have entries in the 2025 renewal; those not listed have not had a runner. (R = Runners, W = Winners, P = Places including winners, Win LSP is based on 1pt Win and EW LSP is based on 0.5pt Win & 0.5pt Place):
| Trainer | R-W-P | Win | EW |
|---|---|---|---|
| K R Burke | 5-2-3 | +0.85 | +0.29 |
| A P O'Brien | 7-1-2 | +6.00 | +2.03 |
| Andrew Balding | 5-0-1 | -5.00 | -4.00 |
| Sir Mark Prescott Bt | 2-0-0 | -2.00 | -2.00 |
| Hilal Kobeissi | 1-0-0 | -1.00 | -1.00 |
| Richard Hughes | 1-0-0 | -1.00 | -1.00 |
| Charlie Johnston | 1-0-0 | -1.00 | -1.00 |
May Hill Stakes Jockey Statistics
Here are the May Hill Stakes jockey statistics over the last 20 renewals for jockeys who have rides in the 2025 renewal; those not listed have not had a runner. (R = Runners, W = Winners, P = Places including winners, Win LSP is based on 1pt Win and EW LSP is based on 0.5pt Win & 0.5pt Place):
| Jockey | R-W-P | Win | EW |
|---|---|---|---|
| William Buick (Venetian Lace) | 9-1-4 | -7.00 | -3.90 |
| James Doyle (Timeforshowcasing) | 5-1-2 | +2.00 | +0.50 |
| Clifford Lee (Samra Green) | 2-1-1 | +0.10 | -0.31 |
| Tom Marquand (Swift Winds) | 5-0-1 | -5.00 | +0.50 |
| David Egan (Aylin) | 1-0-0 | -1.00 | -1.00 |
| Luke Morris (Moon Target) | 1-0-0 | -1.00 | -1.00 |
| Billy Loughnane (Rose Ghaiyyath) | 1-0-0 | -1.00 | -1.00 |
2025 May Hill Stakes Trends
Favourites finishing positions (oldest to latest): 5, 2, 1, 1, 3, 1, 2, 1, 1, 2, 8, 6, 1, 7, 6, 3, 1, 7, 1, 1
The percentage shown is the percentage of the total number of runners who fell under that factor. High percentages are less appealing than lower ones, as you would expect them to do well.
- 20 / 20 (79%) - Break of 11 - 83 days (Last Win)
- 20 / 20 (79%) - Not on HY/STD-SLW/STD (Last Win)
- 20 / 20 (81%) - Not in a Cl2 (Last Win)
- 20 / 20 (82%) - Achieved a TS of 53+ (LTO)
- 20 / 20 (82%) - Break of 11 - 50 days (Last Place)
- 20 / 20 (82%) - In a field of 5 - 15 (Last Win)
- 20 / 20 (84%) - Beaten no more -3l (LTO)
- 20 / 20 (84%) - Had 1 - 3 wins (90 Days)
- 20 / 20 (85%) - Carried 120 - 135lbs (Last Win)
- 20 / 20 (85%) - Within the first 7 of the market
- 20 / 20 (85%) - No bigger than 22/1 (Career Win)
- 20 / 20 (86%) - Won by at least a head (Last Win)
- 20 / 20 (86%) - Not in FRA/ITA/SCO/WAL (Last Win)
- 20 / 20 (87%) - Achieved an RPR of 70+ (Last Win)
- 20 / 20 (88%) - Highest Placed is not Cl2
Remember to use the trends listed above, along with the Doncaster racing predictions, to see if you can find the winner of the May Hill Stakes. Did you know that we have an OLBG Betting School section on OLBG? It is a place to help you improve your betting experience with articles covering numerous topics.
Are you already a member? If not, then why not? With over £6,000 given away each month in the tipster competition, why not get involved? Remember, it is completely FREE! So, head over to the registration page to sign up today! If you are already a member, then share your thoughts on the May Hill Stakes by adding a tip on the race here.
101 Ways to find Winners in Horse Racing
May Hill Stakes Trend Shortlist
Doncaster will host the 2025 renewal of the May Hill Stakes, which will be run at 2:25 pm on Thursday, 11th September 2025, and these are the runners who perform best based on the trends, along with the trainer and jockey and their record in the race (Runs-Wins-Places Win LSP / EW LSP):
- 15/15 Moon Target (15/8)
- Sir Mark Prescott Bt (2-0-0 -2.00 / -2.00)
- Luke Morris (1-0-0 -1.00 / -1.00)
Others: Pacific Mission (14/15), Samra Green (14/15), Sugar Island (12/15), Timeforshowcasing (12/15), Aylin (11/15), Rose Ghaiyyath (11/15), Swift Winds (11/15) and Venetian Lace (11/15).
*Trainer & Jockey numbers are Runs-Wins-Places Win LSP / EW LSP, Runners, Odds and Trends Passed/Failed correct at the time of posting (2:01 pm Tuesday 9th September 2025), if no odds were available at the time of posting, then forecasted odds are used.
May Hill Stakes Trend Analysis
✅ The trend factor, which has produced 10+ winners and shows the best LSP, an LSP of +38.74, is when runners ran on Good To Firm ground when last winning.
❌ The worst performing factor that has failed to produce a single winner is when runners had 0 career wins in Flat (Turf) races, when backing these, the trend shows a record of 0-28.
Here are the most recent winning draws, along with the further placings in brackets:
- 2024: Winner in 3 (5,2) [9 Runners]
- 2023: Winner in 3 (7) [7 Runners]
- 2022: Winner in 7 (3,1) [8 Runners]
- 2021: Winner in 5 (1) [6 Runners]
- 2020: Winner in 9 (7,1) [9 Runners]
The course which has produced the most winners of the May Hill Stakes is Newmarket (July); there have been a total of 9 winners of this race who ran at Newmarket (July) last time out. The next best course, which has produced the second most winners, is Curragh; there have been a total of 3 winners of this race who ran at Curragh last time out.
Looking over the past renewals, there is only one stallion whose offspring have produced multiple winners of the May Hill Stakes; that stallion, Dynaformer, has produced 2 winners (2010,2008).
Looking over the past renewals, there is only one stallion whose offspring have been disappointed with multiple attempts but no wins in the May Hill Stakes; that stallion is Galileo, who has failed to produce a winner from 6 runners.
Looking at the winning odds over the last 20 renewals, the biggest-priced winner was Polly Pott in 2022, winning for Harry Dunlop at odds of 40/1 under the guidance of Daniel Tudhope. Looking at the runners at the head of the market over the last 20 renewals, there have been 9 winning favourites in the race. Remember to use the best racing tipsters along with the information on this page to find a bet on the 2025 May Hill Stakes.
Route to the May Hill Stakes
Many trainers will target races to use as prep races before coming to the May Hill Stakes. These are the races which the recent winners ran in before coming here:
| Info | Last Race |
|---|---|
| 2024 - Desert Flower Newmarket (July) - 1st of 6 (1/4) | Turners EBF Fillies Novice Stakes |
| 2023 - Darnation Goodwood - 1st of 6 (5/2) | William Hill Prestige Fillies Stakes |
| 2022 - Polly Pott Salisbury - 1st of 6 (7/2) | Tuck Box Fresh By Nature Nursery Handicap |
| 2021 - Inspiral Sandown - 1st of 9 (1/1) | British Stallion Studs EBF Star Stakes |
| 2020 - Indigo Girl Yarmouth - 1st of 5 (10/3) | British Stallion Studs EBF Fillies Novice Stakes |
| 2019 - Powerful Breeze Newmarket (July) - 1st of 8 (20/1) | C J Murfitt Ltd Fillies Novice Stakes |
| 2018 - Fleeting Curragh - 3rd of 8 (20/1) | Flame Of Tara Irish EBF Stakes |
| 2017 - Laurens Deauville - 2nd of 11 (42/5) | Shadwell Prix du Calvados |
| 2016 - Rich Legacy Goodwood - 4th of 7 (10/3) | Prestige Stakes |
| 2015 - Turret Rocks Curragh - 4th of 8 (14/1) | Breast Cancer Research Debutante Stakes |
Other Principal races during the Doncaster St Leger Festival
Here is the schedule for the four-day St Leger Festival for races, which we cover with blogs. Each race will be linked to the race blog and detail last year's winner in the table below.
Thursday at St Leger Festival
There are a couple of Group 2s which take centre-stage on the opening day of the St Leger Festival, the £120k May Hill Stakes, where the two-year-olds feature and then the £150k Park Hill Fillies Stakes, where the older fillies compete. We also have the £300k 2-y-o Stakes, a valuable class two race.
| Race | Last Winner | Info |
|---|---|---|
| Carrie Red Fillies Nursery | Ghost Run (GB) 2yo - 5/1 | Andrew Balding Oisin Murphy |
| Doncaster 2yo Stakes | Hallasan (GB) 2yo - 15/2 | Charlie Appleby William Buick |
| May Hill Stakes | Desert Flower (IRE) 2yo - 1/1 | Charlie Appleby William Buick |
| Park Hill Stakes | Nakheel (FR) 3yo - 10/1 | Owen Burrows Jim Crowley |
| Winners Wear Skopes Menswear Handicap | Kildare Legend (IRE) 3yo - 100/30 | James Ferguson Daniel Muscutt |
Friday at St Leger Festival
On Friday, the feature race of the day is the Group 2 Doncaster Cup, which is part of the British Champion Series and carries a £150k purse. The Flying Childers Stakes is another race on Friday, which carries a decent purse, £130k on offer for the two-year-olds.
| Race | Last Winner | Info |
|---|---|---|
| Mallard Handicap | Faylaq (GB) 8yo - 18/1 | Jim Goldie Amie Waugh |
| Flying Scotsman Stakes | Benevento (IRE) 2yo - 7/1 | Raphael E Freire David Egan |
| Flying Childers Stakes | Aesterius (IRE) 2yo - 7/2 | Archie Watson James Doyle |
| Doncaster Cup | Sweet William (IRE) 5yo - 7/4 | John & Thady Gosden Robert Havlin |
Saturday at St Leger Festival
The feature race of the festival, the St Leger, takes place on Saturday, another race which is part of the British Champion Series, this Group 1 carries a purse of £700k. The three races before the St Leger all carry decent purses too, the Champagne Stakes (£150k), the Portland (£100k) and the Park Stakes (£140k).
| Race | Last Winner | Info |
|---|---|---|
| PJ Towey Construction Handicap | Johan (GB) 7yo - 18/1 | Jack Channon Rossa Ryan |
| Champagne Stakes | Bay City Roller (IRE) 2yo - 9/2 | George Scott Callum Shepherd |
| Portland Heritage Handicap | American Affair (GB) 4yo - 4/1 | Jim Goldie Paul Mulrennan |
| Park Stakes | Kinross (GB) 7yo - 11/4 | Ralph Beckett Rossa Ryan |
| St Leger | Jan Brueghel (IRE) 3yo - 11/4 | A P O'Brien Sean Levey |
| Mastiff Manor Handicap | Daysofourlives (IRE) 4yo - 100/30 | Marco Botti Jack Mitchell |
Sunday at St Leger Festival
Sunday is a bit more low-key, only one class one race, which is the £85k Sceptre Stakes for the fillies over 7f, and there are also a couple of decent handicaps carrying good purses of £70k and £65k.
| Race | Last Winner | Info |
|---|---|---|
| City of Doncaster Handicap | Telemark (IRE) 3yo - 12/1 | Simon & Ed Crisford Harry Davies |
| Betfred 'The Classic Bookmaker' Handicap | Baldomero (IRE) 6yo - 10/1 | Michael Appleby Silvestre De Sousa |
| Sceptre Stakes | Great Generation (IRE) 3yo - 8/1 | Marco Botti Marco Ghiani |
Article Contributor Information
We are blessed with an excellent team of specialists and experts at OLBG. Contributing to creating and maintaining this May Hill Stakes Preview are at hand, Andy and James. They both work on the Horse racing tips team team looking after the tipsters and managing the tips settlement, whilst also creating and managing all of the horse racing event previews for Flat Racing.
James Banting
Expert Guide
Andy Powell
Expert Guide
