Himself

Philip Kirby's yard in North Yorkshire has been in fine form this season, sending out 36 winners, and Himself has been one of the contributors. His first win came at Newcastle in November 2025, and within a few months he had added two more at Southwell — winning 2 from just 3 visits there, which makes him about as close to a course specialist as you can get at this stage of a career. Some horses simply love a particular track, whether it is the shape of the bends, the surface, or something harder to explain. Southwell clearly suits Himself, and smart trainers remember that.

The partnership with jockey Aiden Brookes is worth noting too. In eight races together they have won three times — that is 3 in 8, or 38%, which is an unusually productive combination. For context, even the best jockey-horse partnerships in Britain rarely sustain that kind of win rate over many races. Whether it is timing, communication, or just a good match, something works between them.

Himself is most effective over longer trips — between one mile six furlongs and two miles — and on normal ground, winning 4 of his 9 races in those conditions. He is a horse who needs a proper test, not a sprint. He races mainly at Class 6, the entry level of British racing, and has converted 4 of his 15 races at that level — roughly 1 in every 4 — which is a solid return. He is not climbing the ranks yet, but he is winning races, which is the only thing that matters.

He raced just yesterday and has been building momentum through early 2026. Whether that continues will depend on where Kirby places him next, but the recent form — two wins in his last four — points to a horse in the form of his life right now.