Be Aware

His record reads 2 wins and 11 places from 14 races, a win rate of around 1 in every 7. But the raw numbers undersell him slightly. When conditions suit — wet or muddy ground and a trip of two miles or more — he transforms into a genuinely competitive animal. On soft ground he has won 2 of his 9 races, a 22% win rate, and over longer distances he wins 1 in every 4. That is not a horse who is just making up the numbers; that is a horse with clear preferences, and when those boxes are ticked, he becomes dangerous.

He has been partnered by Harry Skelton, the trainer's brother, in 13 of his 14 races, a pairing that has produced both wins. That kind of continuity matters — horse and jockey build an understanding, and Harry knows exactly what Be Aware needs. The first win came at Newbury in January 2024, and when asked about it afterwards, assistant trainer Tom Messenger noted that the family knew the horse well — his older brother Lac De Constance is also in the yard — and that while they always believed he was capable of winning, the question was whether he was ready mentally. The fact that he delivered suggests he is a horse who needed time to grow into himself.

The one significant caveat is his record at the top level. In seven races at Class 1 — the biggest races in Britain — he has not won once. He has been competitive, but competitive is not the same as winning, and at the highest grade the margin for error disappears entirely. Dan Skelton has spoken about Be Aware's high-class early form and the interest in stepping him into a different type of race, suggesting the yard believes there is still a chapter to be written.

With the Skelton operation having sent out 194 winners this season alone — a staggering output — Be Aware is far from their headline act. But he raced just yesterday, he is clearly in form, and a horse who wins 1 in 4 on his preferred ground and trip is never one to ignore.