Fame And Concrete

Jonjo O'Neill Jr has been the regular partner, riding Fame And Concrete in five of those races without a win between them. That is not necessarily a criticism of either horse or jockey — some horses are simply very good at finishing second. At Class 4, the level where this horse most often competes, it has gone 0 from 3, which means it has been consistently placed against horses at a perfectly respectable standard without ever finding that extra gear when it matters most.

What makes Fame And Concrete an interesting case is something the trainer hinted at years ago, back in October 2022, when he described the horse as laid-back and hard to read at home — not flashy, not obviously talented, just quietly getting on with it. That kind of horse can fool you. The trainer also mentioned at the time that Fame And Concrete had not been beaten far by a horse called Lookaway, who went on to win at Aintree, which suggested there was genuine ability underneath the understated surface. Whether that ability ever translates into a victory remains the open question.

What is clear is that Fame And Concrete is still active — it raced just yesterday — and at ten years old, it is still turning up and finishing in the frame. There is something quietly admirable about that. Not every horse needs to be a winner to be worth watching. Sometimes the most intriguing story is the one still waiting for its ending.