Front Gunner

Trained by Stephen Hanlon at Constable Burton in North Yorkshire, Front Gunner operates mainly at Class 6 level, which is the bread-and-butter end of British racing — competitive enough, but not the glamour end of the sport. At that level, the horse has won 3 from 13, a rate of roughly 1 in every 4, which is actually a solid return for the grade. Hanlon's yard has sent out 4 winners this season, so Front Gunner is carrying a fair share of the stable's success.

The partnership with jockey Tom Eaves is worth noting. In six rides together, Eaves has been aboard for 2 of the 3 wins — a win rate of 33%, or 2 in every 6, which is genuinely impressive by any measure. When these two line up together, something tends to happen.

The most recent win came at Newcastle on 7 November 2025, now six months ago, and recent form tells a more frustrating story: the last six runs read 5-9-2-6-6-7, with that second place the lone bright spot. The horse has not found the winner's enclosure in six races since, though it raced just yesterday, so clearly the yard — the trainer and team — are keeping it busy and looking for the right opportunity.

The sensible question, if you were watching this horse, is whether Newcastle comes around again soon. That is where Front Gunner has twice found a way to win, and with a career that has been built on modest but real ability, another afternoon on that track with Eaves in the saddle is probably what everyone in the yard is waiting for.