Busby

The most interesting thing about Busby is what happens when the trip is right. At distances between a mile and one furlong and a mile and two furlongs, he transforms into a genuinely reliable performer, winning 6 of his 18 races at those distances. That is a win rate of 33 percent — wins in 1 of every 3 races — which is remarkable for any horse at any level. It tells you that Busby is not simply making up the numbers; he has a specific gear that clicks when conditions suit him, and any punter or fan keeping an eye on trip is watching a different horse to the one who drifts out of his comfort zone.

He is trained by Philip Kirby at East Appleton in North Yorkshire, a yard that has sent out 34 winners already this season — a healthy, productive operation. His most regular partner in the saddle is Aiden Brookes, who has ridden him in 12 of his races and won twice together, a win rate of about 1 in 6. That combination clearly has some history and understanding behind it.

The honest part of the picture is that Busby has not won in his last 6 races, and his most recent form figures — 10, 5, 7, 6, 5, 10 — suggest he is finding things a little tougher right now. His last win came at Wolverhampton in February 2025, over 14 months ago. At 11, he is in the later chapter of his racing life. But he raced just yesterday, which means the team at East Appleton still believes there is something left in the tank. For a horse with his record at the right trip and the right conditions, they may well be right.