Epic West

The career started well, with a first win at Carlisle in November 2024, and trainer Jamie Snowden was quick to point out that the performance was better than it looked on paper. The horse was green — a bit distracted, ears pricked, taking in the atmosphere — yet still won. For a horse having its first race under rules after a couple of outings in point-to-points in Ireland, that speaks to real natural ability. Snowden noted at the time that Epic West has the pedigree and the physique for a proper staying chaser over three miles, so winning over two miles with speed to spare suggested there is considerably more to come.

A second win followed at Plumpton in December 2024, and the recent form reads well: second, third, second, then a blip back in tenth, before bouncing back to second again. That tenth-place finish aside, this is a horse that just keeps plugging away near the front of the action. The partnership with jockey Gavin Sheehan has been productive — they have won 2 of their 6 races together, or about 1 in every 3, which is a healthy return at any level.

Where the picture gets interesting is at Class 3, one step up in quality. Epic West has run three times at that level without winning, going 0 from 3. That is not a disaster — Class 3 races are genuinely competitive and plenty of good horses take time to break through — but it does draw a clear line of what has been achieved so far and what still needs to happen. The yard at Lambourn is in fine form this season, having sent out 82 winners, so the support structure is there. Epic West raced just yesterday, which means the team clearly has confidence in keeping this horse active. The next step up is the one to watch.