Azuinthejungle

Nigel Tinkler trains Azuinthejungle from his yard in Langton, North Yorkshire, and he has had a productive season — 37 winners sent out this campaign, which is the mark of a stable in good form. Tinkler was candid after that July winning streak, admitting the team probably asked a bit too much of the horse too soon, racing him too frequently in quick succession. It is a refreshingly honest assessment, and importantly, he gave the horse the break he needed rather than pressing on. That kind of management tends to pay off.

The jockey most familiar with this horse is Faye McManoman, who has ridden Azuinthejungle in 10 of his 19 races and won on 2 of them — a win rate of 20%, or 1 in every 5 rides together. That is actually a better return than his overall career record, which suggests the partnership suits him. Trust between a jockey and a horse matters more than people realise, particularly with a horse described by his trainer as game — meaning he digs in and fights rather than throwing in the towel when the race gets tough.

At just four years old, there is still room to develop. His recent form figures — 1, 2, 4, 10, 7, 12, reading from most recent back — tell the story of a horse who had a peak, took a deserved rest, and is now working his way back through the gears. The 10th-place finish is probably noise from a race too soon or a track that didn't suit; the underlying trajectory still looks positive. Tinkler said he was looking forward to him as a four-year-old, and given what this horse showed in his three-race winning run, that optimism feels well-founded rather than just trainer-speak. Keep an eye on Azuinthejungle when conditions suit.