When a lightly raced 3-year-old starts taking handicaps apart in the style of Double Rush, you sit up and pay attention. After showing early promise last autumn in some fair novice events, this colt by Blue Point has returned from a 173-day break looking like a completely different beast.

Trained by Charles Hills for Mr Zhang Yuesheng, Double Rush blew the cobwebs away at Wolverhampton on March 31st. Sent off at 8/11, he looked every inch a well-treated improver off 77—making all, drawing clear, and stopping the clock in a way that made the handicapper sit up straight. Timeform noted it was a “big jump forward backed up by the clock,” and they weren’t wrong.

Fast forward just over two weeks to Newmarket (16 Apr), and Double Rush backed it up in style. Under a more patient ride this time, he travelled sweetly, picked up smoothly when asked, and had “a bit in hand” when hitting the line first off 85. That’s now two wins, two styles, and a growing feeling that the ceiling is nowhere near reached yet.

The Pedigree Angle

There’s stamina in the mix too. He’s a half-brother to winners over 7.5f and 11f in France, and while he’s done his damage at 6f so far, the feeling is he’ll stay 7f—and likely further—in time. But for now? No need to change what’s working.

Why He’s a Must-Track

Rapid progress: He’s improved 28+ lbs in two runs.

Versatile running styles: Can front-run or stalk and pounce.

Likely upwardly mobile: Still just five runs into his career.

Pedigree & profile scream more to come: Blue Point progeny are firing, and this lad could easily be rated 95+ by mid-season.


Charles Hills knows how to place one well, and you’d imagine he’ll now plot a route toward a valuable 3yo sprint or even a heritage handicap if connections get ambitious. Whether that’s a tilt at Ascot or a crack at something like the 6f 3yo heritage handicap at York, this is a horse going places.


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Add him to your tracker. Keep an eye on entries. And if he turns up again under 95, you may want to pounce.

Because Double Rush doesn’t look like stopping just yet.