The horse hasn't raced in roughly five months, which is a significant break at this stage of a young horse's career. Whether that time away reflects a minor setback, a deliberate freshening up, or simply waiting for the right opportunity, it means Double Naughty returns today with something to prove and a degree of uncertainty around how it will come back. Horses can return from a layoff better than ever, or need a run to shake off the rust — it genuinely could go either way.
What works in Double Naughty's favour is the yard behind it. Richard Hannon, training out of Herridge in Wiltshire, has sent out 113 winners this season alone — that is a serious operation, one of the most productive in Britain. When a stable of that size and quality keeps running a horse, it usually means they believe there is something worth developing. Hannon's team know what a talented young horse looks like, and they have not given up on this one.
The challenge is clear, though. Double Naughty has raced three times at its current level without winning once, and at two years old the window for development is shorter than it looks. Still, plenty of horses take five or six races to figure things out, and a strong yard, a long break, and a horse that keeps finishing in the places rather than trailing home last are not the worst set of ingredients to work with.
| Course | Races | Results | Last visited | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bath Undulating |
2 | 1 third, 1 other | 20 Oct | 0% |
| chelmsford | 1 | 1 other | 28 Aug | 0% |
| Newbury Galloping |
1 | 1 other | 10 Jul | 0% |
| Thirsk Galloping |
1 | 1 third | 15 Sep | 0% |