The defining moment so far arrived on 22 August 2024 at York, where Angel Hunter won a Class 2 race — one of the top races in Britain — on his first ever visit to the winner's enclosure. That is an unusual way to open your account. Most horses find their feet in lower-key races before stepping up; Angel Hunter skipped that part and won his first race at one of the sport's most prestigious venues. His trainer Richard Hannon resisted the temptation to run him in an even bigger sales race earlier that day, and the patience paid off immediately.
Hannon runs one of Britain's busiest and most successful yards — 118 winners already this season is a remarkable tally that speaks to the sheer quality and volume of horses at Herridge. Within that operation, Angel Hunter has clearly earned his place. When Sean Levey, the jockey who knows him best, takes the ride, the results are striking: 3 wins from 8 races together, meaning the pair win roughly 3 in every 8 times they line up — a 38% record that most partnerships would envy. That kind of consistency between horse and rider is not accidental.
The most recent evidence that Angel Hunter is heading somewhere came just six weeks ago at Lingfield Park. A narrow win in a competitive race to get his season started, and Hannon was immediately thinking about what comes next. He was openly frustrated that the handicapper raised Angel Hunter's weight by 3lb for winning by a nose — a penalty he considers harsh — but the ambition in the yard is clear. The words "Hunt Cup" were mentioned, which is one of the most famous and fiercely competitive races at Royal Ascot. That is not the sort of conversation you have about a horse you are simply managing; that is the conversation you have about one you believe in.
On normal ground he has won 2 of his last 3 races — a 67% record — and his recent form has picked up sharply after a dip. Racing just yesterday, Angel Hunter is very much a horse in motion. Whether Ascot comes or not, there is a sense around this horse that the best is still to come.
| Course | Races | Results | Last visited | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ascot Galloping |
5 | 1 win, 1 third, 3 other | 1 May | 20% |
| Southwell Galloping |
2 | 1 win, 1 other | 20 Feb | 50% |
| Kempton Park Galloping |
2 | 2 other | 4 Feb | 0% |
| Haydock Park Galloping |
2 | 1 third, 1 other | 17 Oct | 0% |
| Lingfield Park Sharp |
1 | 1 win | 3 Apr | 100% |
| York Galloping |
1 | 1 win | 22 Aug | 100% |
| Doncaster Galloping |
1 | 1 other | 14 Sep | 0% |
| Sandown Park Galloping |
1 | 1 third | 5 Jul | 0% |
| Newmarket Galloping |
1 | 1 other | 16 May | 0% |