Crestofdistinction

The story so far has had its bumps. A setback early last year wiped out most of the summer, and when the horse did race it was still finding its way, described by Channon as "quite green". But the winter proved transformative. By the time Crestofdistinction returned to Kempton Park in May 2025, it was a different animal. The yard fitted cheekpieces — a piece of kit designed to sharpen the focus of a horse that is a little too relaxed about the whole business — and it worked immediately. The horse "pretty much dominated", in Channon's own words, and a first career win was on the board.

A second win followed at Wolverhampton in June, and the stat that stands out most sharply is what happens when the ground gets wet. On soft or muddy ground, Crestofdistinction has won 2 of its 3 races — a 67% win rate. That is a genuinely striking number. Most horses find conditions like that uncomfortable and slow; this one appears to relish them. That sort of preference is the kind of thing that gives a trainer a real edge when conditions suit, because they can target those races with real confidence.

Channon has been direct about what he thinks this horse can become: a proper sprinter with the ability to climb through the ranks. The Channon yard has sent out 46 winners already this season, so this is not a stable running on hope — they know what a good horse looks like. With the recent form reading a win, a second, and a fourth in three of its last five starts, Crestofdistinction is clearly in decent shape. The two unplaced runs in between are a reminder it is not flawless, but the overall direction of travel is clearly upward. If the rain comes, watch out for this one.