What makes this horse interesting is not its record so far, but the pattern of its form. In the last six outings, Athenian Spirit finished 9th, 7th, 3rd, 13th, 3rd, and 2nd—which means it has found the frame (a top-three finish) twice in those last six runs. That 2nd place most recently suggests the horse is competitive and capable of running well on any given day. The question now is whether trainer Georgina Nicholls, based at Kingston Lisle in Oxfordshire, can find the right race to finally break through. The yard has been in decent form this season, sending out 11 winners, so there is clearly horsemanship there to work with.
Athenian Spirit's record at Class 6 level—the bottom tier of competitive racing—stands at nought from six starts, which points to a horse that may need either a drop in standard, a change of scenery, or simply the right circumstances to click. At three years old, there is still time for that to happen. The horse is actively racing and clearly sound, which counts for something.
| Course | Races | Results | Last visited | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wolverhampton Galloping |
4 | 1 second, 1 third, 2 other | 21 Jul | 0% |
| Lingfield Park Sharp |
3 | 2 seconds, 1 third | 6 Jul | 0% |
| Doncaster Galloping |
2 | 2 other | 14 Jun | 0% |
| Brighton Undulating |
1 | 1 other | 8 Aug | 0% |
| Newcastle Galloping |
1 | 1 other | 6 Nov | 0% |
| Southwell Galloping |
1 | 1 other | 6 Aug | 0% |
| Kempton Park Galloping |
1 | 1 other | 25 Jun | 0% |