Best Rate

Six weeks ago, on 17 July at Pontefract, Best Rate won its most recent race. Before that came a win earlier in the summer, meaning it has picked up 2 victories from its last 6 races — a marked improvement on a career average of roughly 1 win in every 8 outings. The most recent form sheet tells a story of genuine progress: a fourth place, a pair of wins, then a third, a fifth, and just yesterday an eighth. That last run was a stumble, but the upward trend through the spring and summer is hard to miss.

The horse clearly has a type of race it prefers. On fast, dry ground, Best Rate wins roughly 1 in every 3 times it runs — a 33% win rate that is substantially better than its overall average. It also seems to suit the middle distance, particularly races around 1 mile 1 furlong to 1 mile 2 furlongs, where it has won 2 of 11 starts. Trainer Richard Hannon, who runs one of Britain's busiest yards with 118 winners sent out this season, clearly knows what Best Rate can do. The jockey Sean Levey has ridden the horse just six times but has won once on it — better than the overall win rate suggests.

One weakness is glaring: at Class 4 level — a middle-ranking standard — Best Rate has never won in 9 attempts. The horse tends to do better in slightly easier company, which points to where it may find most success going forward. Last won at Pontefract just weeks ago, and still active on the track, Best Rate is a horse that could well string together more victories if it gets the right conditions and the right race.