Diligently
Diligently's breakthrough came late but decisively. After sixteen races without a win, the 4-year-old delivered his maiden victory in a Class 2 race at York on 22 August 2024, the kind of top-level success that suggested his trainer
Clive Cox had been patient for good reason. What made it more impressive was that it arrived just three races after a genuinely bewildering defeat at Sandown, where Diligently finished nine lengths adrift over five furlongs. Cox's explanation reveals the thinking: he had deliberately shortened the distance to sharpen the horse's focus, but Diligently got trapped on the rail with nowhere to go. It was a race to forget, and apparently Diligently did exactly that, bouncing back at York with genuine authority.
Based on TrackLab's AI analysis
📊 Key Numbers
Career statistics for this horse
41.2%
Place rate (top 3)
avg ~30%
🔍 Full Analysis
TrackLab's AI-generated assessment based on career data and recent form
The horse has discovered a winning formula since. He loves fast, dry ground, winning 3 of his 9 races (33%) when conditions favour speed. He is also a course specialist at Windsor, where he has won 2 of 5 races and last scored eight weeks ago. Overall his record stands at 3 wins and 7 places from 17 races — a 18% win rate that looks modest on paper, but tells a different story when you consider he went winless through his first sixteen attempts. His recent form has been volatile: a tenth place last time out, but a fourth and a fourth before that, suggesting he remains capable at the level where he typically competes. Cox runs a powerful yard that has already sent out 48 winners this season, and his patience with Diligently looks to have paid off. The horse has grown stronger over the winter and has room to develop further. After years of searching, this horse finally found his mark.
⚡ Strengths & Risks
What the data says works for and against this horse
✓ What works in their favour
✔ Excellent record on good_to_firm ground: 3 wins from 9 starts (33%)
⚠ What to watch out for
⚠ Poor record on good ground: 0 wins from 7 starts
🎯 Where This Horse Thrives
Performance broken down by ground, distance, class, and track type
🌧 Ground Conditions
Good to firm (drying out)
Loves
Good to soft (some give)
Unknown
🏅 Competition Level
Class 2 (high-level)
Loves
Class 3 (mid-level)
Avoids
🏟 Track Shape
Right-handed, tight turns
Loves
Left-handed, long straights
Likes
Left-handed, tight
Unknown
Right-handed, hilly
Unknown
Right-handed, long straights
Avoids
📅 Recent Runs
The last 10 races, most recent first
10 Aug
2nd
Windsor
5f – 6½f · Good_To_Firm · 16 runners
10 Jul
10th
Ascot
5f – 6½f · Good_To_Firm · 13 runners
15 Jun
🏆 Won
Windsor
5f – 6½f · Good_To_Firm · 14 runners
11 May
8th
Windsor
5f – 6½f · Good_To_Firm · 11 runners
1 May
4th
Goodwood
5f – 6½f · Good · 9 runners
15 Apr
4th
Newmarket
5f – 6½f · Good · 14 runners
6 Sep
2nd
Thirsk
5f – 6½f · Good · 16 runners
18 Aug
🏆 Won
Windsor
5f – 6½f · Good_To_Firm · 8 runners
26 Jul
9th
Chester
5f – 6½f · Good · 11 runners
14 Jun
18th
York
5f – 6½f · Good_To_Firm · 22 runners
🏇 Jockey Partnerships
Every jockey who has ridden this horse, sorted by rides together
🏟 Track Record
Win rate at each course this horse has visited
| Course | Races | Results | Last visited | Win rate |
|---|
| Windsor Sharp |
5 |
2 wins, 1 second, 2 other |
10 Aug |
40% |
| York Galloping |
2 |
1 win, 1 other |
14 Jun |
50% |
| Ascot Galloping |
2 |
2 other |
10 Jul |
0% |
| Chester Tight |
2 |
1 second, 1 other |
26 Jul |
0% |
| Thirsk Galloping |
1 |
1 second |
6 Sep |
0% |
| Newmarket Galloping |
1 |
1 other |
15 Apr |
0% |
| Goodwood Undulating |
1 |
1 other |
1 May |
0% |
| Newbury Galloping |
1 |
1 other |
17 May |
0% |
| Nottingham Galloping |
1 |
1 third |
6 Jul |
0% |
| Sandown Park Galloping |
1 |
1 other |
31 Jul |
0% |