Age: 4
Colour: Grey
Sex: Gelding
Trainer: Richard Hughes
Owner: P Merritt, K Lawrence & P Cook
Pedigree: HAVANA GREY (118) x DAME SHIRLEY (Haafhd 129)

Overview:
Havanagreattime is an improving 4-year-old grey gelding with a solid profile for handicaps. His form has shown consistent progress, particularly in the latter half of 2024 and into 2025, indicating he’s developing into a reliable contender in competitive races. A compact horse who has undergone a breathing operation, he has displayed versatility across various conditions, proving effective on polytrack, tapeta, and turf surfaces with good-to-soft and firm ground.

Recent Form:
The gelding has shown encouraging signs of improvement, culminating in a recent win at Newbury on April 11, 2025, where he triumphed in a 6f turf race. He demonstrated resilience and tactical awareness, holding off rivals after being challenged over the final furlong. This performance suggests he’s better than ever and still progressing, especially considering he was lightly supported in the betting market.

Before this, he had a solid return to form at Southwell in March 2025, where he led for much of the race and was only overtaken in the final furlong to finish third. A slightly disappointing effort at Southwell in February, when he raced with restraint in cheekpieces, can likely be forgiven due to the nature of the tactics employed that day.

Best Form:

Newbury, 11 April 2025: Won a 6f turf race, showing a strong attitude when challenged, proving he’s adaptable and not reliant on leading from the front.

Lingfield, 4 December 2024: Career-best performance to date, making all in a 7f AW race and quickening early to pull clear.

Kempton, 27 March 2024: Another victory on all-weather where he made all, always holding on despite pressure late on.


Racing Style:
He typically races prominently, often at the head of affairs, and is best suited to leading or tracking the pace, as demonstrated in several of his wins. He’s shown the ability to hold off challenges, particularly when left to dictate the pace, although he’s also adaptable enough to handle a more competitive setup.

Track Record:
He has been competitive in a variety of conditions, handling both synthetic and turf tracks well. He appears especially comfortable on good to firm ground and has shown ability on the AW, making him a versatile option for different tracks and conditions.

Is He One for the Tracker?
Yes, Havanagreattime is certainly one for the tracker. His recent form, particularly the win at Newbury, shows that he’s in good nick and could continue to improve as the season progresses. His tactical versatility and proven ability over both turf and all-weather make him a strong candidate for handicaps. Keep an eye on him for races where he can take charge early, especially over 6-7f distances, as he’s capable of securing further success.