Auntie Jo

That win finally arrived at Newcastle on 12 March 2026, and it is still her only one. What makes that result more interesting is where it happened — not at her usual level. Auntie Jo has raced 12 times in Class 6, the lowest tier of British racing, and has not won once at that level. Newcastle was a step up, which suggests she may actually be better than her day-to-day surroundings give her credit for. Sometimes a horse just needs the right race on the right day, and that is exactly what she found.

Her recent form makes for interesting reading: looking at the last six races in order from most recent, she has finished 9th, 4th, 4th, 7th, 1st, and 6th. That winning run sits right in the middle, sandwiched between some less encouraging results, and she has not recaptured that form in the eight weeks since. Still, the two fourth-place finishes immediately after suggest she was running well for a spell around that time.

She is trained by David O'Meara at Upper Helmsley in North Yorkshire, one of the more productive yards in the north of England — 107 winners already this season is a serious number and reflects a well-organised operation. Her most regular jockey is Mark Winn, who has ridden her in 8 of her 23 races and was aboard for her win. Together they have a win rate of 12% — roughly 1 win from every 8 rides — which is modest but notably better than her overall career record. Auntie Jo raced just yesterday, so she is very much in active training and her team clearly has more plans for her. Whether she can find another race as well-suited as that Newcastle opportunity is the question worth watching.