Friendly Soul

Recently, though, Friendly Soul has found things tougher. In its last six races it has won twice but also posted a couple of blank runs—a 7th place and a missed race—suggesting inconsistency or that the ground or conditions haven't always suited. Still, a 2-from-6 record over that stretch is respectable, and the fact it raced just a day ago shows the horse remains in active training and competing regularly. Its first win came at Kempton Park in December 2023, a breakthrough that signalled it had the ability to get the job done.

The horse is in the hands of John and Thady Gosden at their Newmarket yard, one of Britain's most successful training operations—they have sent out 140 winners already this season. That pedigree matters. Friendly Soul is clearly capable of beating the best on its day, but recent form suggests it is still searching for consistency at the very top. When it fires, as it did at Ascot and Newmarket, it is a horse worth watching.