Setting the Scene: Why the Steventon Stakes Matters
Listed races don't always get the column inches they deserve, but the BetVictor Steventon Stakes at Market Rasen is one of the more intriguing mile-and-a-quarter contests you'll find on a midsummer Saturday. At £70,000 in prize money, it attracts genuine quality — horses rated in the low-to-mid 110s who are either building toward a Group campaign or proving their worth at this level. It's the kind of race where trainer intent tells you a lot, and where the draw and going can be decisive over a trip that rewards both stamina and tactical speed.
Six have been declared for the 13:55 on Saturday 18 July, and on paper this is a competitive little field. We've got a pair of three-year-olds taking on seasoned older horses, a couple of proven course-and-distance winners, and the familiar dark blue of Godolphin represented twice. Let's get into it.
Contender-by-Contender Analysis
Persica (Draw 1) — Richard Hannon / Sean Levey — Rating 114
On official ratings, Persica heads this field and he's the one to beat on figures. The five-year-old gelding carries the highest mark in the race at 114 and crucially comes into this as a proven course-and-distance winner — that's not a footnote, that's a significant tick. Richard Hannon has always liked this horse and Sean Levey knows his way around him. Drawing stall one at Market Rasen over 1m2f isn't a disaster — you don't get the same draw bias concerns you'd have at a track like Chester — but it does mean Levey will need to be positive early to avoid getting shuffled back. On Good to Firm ground, Persica has shown he travels well and picks up cleanly. He's the class act in this field and my idea of the one they all have to beat.
Silawi (Draw 2) — Hamad Al Jehani / Faleh Bughenaim — Rating 112
Here's an interesting one. Silawi is a six-year-old gelding rated 112 and also comes in with the distance winner flag attached — so we've got two proven course-and-distance performers at the top of the weights. Trained by Hamad Al Jehani and ridden by Faleh Bughenaim, this combination doesn't always attract the spotlight but they know what they're doing. Silawi drawing stall two sits nicely alongside Persica, and if he gets a good break he could dictate or sit just off the pace. At 112, he's 2lb inferior to Persica on ratings but the gap is narrow enough that ground and pace scenario could swing things. Don't underestimate him.
Arabian Light (Draw 6) — Charlie Appleby / Kieran Shoemark — Rating 111
Godolphin's second string on ratings but arguably their more streetwise runner. Arabian Light is a five-year-old gelding rated 111, and Kieran Shoemark takes the ride. Drawing stall six in a six-runner field is fine — you're not going to be squeezed out, and Shoemark can simply slot in wherever suits. Charlie Appleby runs horses to win, not to make up the numbers at Listed level, so the fact he's declared two here tells you he fancies his chances with both. Arabian Light has the profile of a horse who handles quick ground well and stays the trip comfortably. Whether he's quite good enough to peg back Persica is the question, but he'll give it a proper go.
Oceans Four (Draw 3) — Brian Meehan / Tom Marquand — Rating 110
The pick of the three-year-olds for me. Oceans Four is rated 110 and gets the age allowance, carrying 8-13 against the older horses' 9-8. Brian Meehan is a trainer who places his horses well, and Tom Marquand is one of the sharpest tactical riders around. Drawing stall three puts him in a lovely position — he can track the pace without doing too much work early. The unknown is whether a three-year-old gelding is fully furnished yet at 1m2f on Good to Firm ground in July. If he is, the weight allowance makes him dangerous. Keep him firmly on your radar.
Al Zanati (Draw 5) — Charlie Appleby / William Buick — Rating 106
Godolphin's younger representative, a three-year-old colt rated 106 partnered by William Buick. Now, Buick on any horse is a reason to pay attention — he doesn't ride races to finish fourth — but Al Zanati does carry the lowest rating in the field and faces a stiff task conceding experience to the older horses. The 8-13 weight helps, and Appleby may well feel this is a stepping stone for the colt rather than a must-win assignment. At 106, he'd need to improve significantly to trouble the principals. One for the notebook rather than the betting slip today.
Midak (Draw 4) — Ian Williams / Rossa Ryan — Rating 102
Midak is the outsider of the field on ratings at 102, and while Rossa Ryan is a capable pilot, Ian Williams will know his horse needs everything to go right to compete here. Drawing stall four is neutral. He's a four-year-old gelding who perhaps finds himself in slightly deeper water than ideal at Listed level, but stranger things have happened on a summer Saturday. He'll need a pace collapse and a big career-best to feature.
Going and Draw: What the Conditions Tell Us
The going is described as Good to Firm, currently on the easy side — which in practical terms means the ground has a bit of give in it without being genuinely soft. That's actually a sweet spot for most horses in this field. Persica and Silawi have both won over the course and distance, so they're clearly comfortable at Market Rasen. The draw over 1m2f here isn't as loaded as it would be over shorter trips — there's enough time for horses to find their positions naturally. Stalls one and two (Persica and Silawi) are perfectly placed if they want to race prominently, while the three-year-olds in stalls three and five have the flexibility to track or sit off. Nothing in the draw screams advantage or disadvantage strongly enough to override the form.
On the going specifically — if it eases further toward Good before the off, that marginally suits the younger horses who may not want the ground too quick. Keep an eye on the morning going reports before committing your stakes.
Value Picks and Dangers
My value angle is Oceans Four. The weight allowance is real, Marquand is a booking that inspires confidence, and Brian Meehan rarely pitches a three-year-old into Listed company without genuine belief. If the market underestimates him relative to the older horses, that's where the value lies.
The danger to my selection is Silawi. Two proven course-and-distance winners in the same race is a rarity, and if Persica has any chink in his armour, Silawi is the one most likely to exploit it. Don't let the unfamiliar trainer name put you off — the horse's form speaks for itself.
My Selection: Persica Each-Way
I'm going with Persica as my selection for the BetVictor Steventon Stakes. At the top of the ratings, proven over course and distance, trained by Richard Hannon who knows exactly what this horse needs, and with Sean Levey — a jockey who rides with intelligence rather than just power — in the saddle. The 114 rating is the highest in the field, and in a small-field Listed race, class tends to out.
The slight concern is the wide draw relative to his preference for racing prominently, but Levey is experienced enough to handle that. If the ground stays on the easy side of Good to Firm, I'd expect Persica to travel well, hit the front at the two-furlong pole, and hold on. Silawi will push him, but I think Persica has the edge.
Selection: Persica (Each-Way)
Check the full Market Rasen racecard for the latest market moves and any morning scratchings before you place your bets.
Who is the favourite for the BetVictor Steventon Stakes 2026?
Based on official ratings, Persica (rated 114) heads the field and is likely to go off as market favourite. He holds the highest mark in the race and is a proven course-and-distance winner, making him the most logical choice for bookmakers to install at the head of the market. That said, Silawi (112) and Arabian Light (111) will be closely priced, and the market may be tighter than the ratings suggest given the small field.
Does the draw matter at Market Rasen over 1m2f?
Over a mile and a quarter at Market Rasen, the draw is far less of a factor than it would be over sprint distances. With six runners and enough early straight to allow horses to find their positions, no stall is a significant disadvantage. Stalls one and two (Persica and Silawi) suit horses who want to race prominently, but the mid-to-high draws (three through six) offer equal opportunity for horses who prefer to track the pace. The going and fitness will matter far more than the draw in this race.
Can a three-year-old win the Steventon Stakes?
Absolutely — and it's worth noting that both three-year-olds in this field, Al Zanati and Oceans Four, receive a weight allowance of 9lb against the older horses (carrying 8-13 versus 9-8). That's a meaningful advantage if the youngsters are physically and mentally ready to handle a mile and a quarter at Listed level. Oceans Four, in particular, looks the more likely of the two to bridge the gap. Historically, well-developed three-year-olds who have shown stamina and tactical maturity can absolutely compete with older horses at this level in midsummer, when the Classic generation is beginning to hit its peak form.
