Bell Shot

Trained by Michael Appleby at Oakham in Rutland, Bell Shot competes mostly in Class 4 races, the lower tier of the sport where £10,000 purses are the norm. The horse has won 4 of 21 starts at that level, which is exactly in line with its career average. The real story lies at Beverley, where Bell Shot is a genuine course specialist. In just five visits there, the horse has won three times — a 60% win rate that suggests something about the track or distances suits its running style perfectly. That kind of dominance at one venue is always worth watching.

What makes Bell Shot's current spell harder to ignore is the drought. The horse has not won in its last six races, though it has picked up places in four of them, most recently finishing third just a day ago. The last victory came at Southwell on New Year's Day 2026, seven months in the past. There is one encouraging thread: Bell Shot thrives on slightly soft, muddy ground, winning 2 of its 3 races when conditions are damp. With autumn approaching and wetter ground likely to return, a return to the winner's enclosure may not be far away — especially if the horse can get back to Beverley, where it simply seems to belong.