Grant Wood

At seven years old, Grant Wood has now raced 35 times and won 6 of them — roughly 1 in every 6 races overall. That is a solid return at his level, where he typically lines up in Class 4 company, the workhorse tier of British racing where the fields are competitive and wins are hard-earned. On normal ground he is even sharper: 4 wins from 12 races at those conditions, or 1 in every 3, which tells you he is a horse built for fair weather and a decent surface rather than slog. His most recent win came at Newcastle in March 2026, just eight weeks ago.

The partnership with jockey David Nolan has been at the heart of his best form. In 18 races together they have won 4, a win rate of roughly 1 in every 4-and-a-half outings. That is notably better than Grant Wood's overall average, and it is the kind of statistic that suggests genuine understanding between horse and rider. Trainer Paul Midgley, who has sent out 39 winners from his Westow base this season alone, clearly rates what he has in this horse. After a win at Ripon he said the horse had kept getting better and better, racking up personal bests throughout the season, and that he deserved a decent prize. High praise from a trainer who does not deal in sentiment.

There was a setback — a problem that emerged after a run at Haydock left him needing time to come right — but Midgley has said he is galloping well again. His recent form reads 3-8-4-1-1, with the two wins sandwiched in there a reminder that the ability has not gone anywhere. He raced just one day ago, so he is as fit and active as it gets. A horse who loves one track, wins 1 in 3 on his best ground, and is currently in form is worth keeping an eye on.