What is more encouraging is the recent trajectory. Looking at the last six runs in reverse order — third, ninth, eleventh, thirteenth, fifth, fourth — there is something of a story being told. The horse was finishing mid-pack or worse in the middle portion of that sequence, but the most recent two outings show a marked improvement, with a fifth and then a fourth place finish. That upward curve matters. Horses do not always announce their best form with a fanfare; sometimes they creep towards it gradually, and Hot To Foxtrot appears to be doing exactly that.
The horse raced just one day ago, so it is very much in the thick of things right now. Trained by John James Feane at his yard in Curragh, Co Kildare — one of Irish racing's most storied addresses — it is part of an operation that has sent out eight winners already this season. That is a yard in decent form, which counts for something. When a trainer is in a good run, their horses tend to be fit, sharp, and placed in races where they have a realistic chance.
The honest summary is this: Hot To Foxtrot is a horse that has not yet shown it can win, but whose form is heading in the right direction at exactly the right time. The first win, when it comes, will have been a long time in the making.
| Course | Races | Results | Last visited | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dundalk Galloping |
3 | 3 other | 10 Apr | 0% |
| Down Royal Galloping |
2 | 1 third, 1 other | 29 Sep | 0% |
| Limerick Galloping |
1 | 1 other | 16 May | 0% |
| Fairyhouse Galloping |
1 | 1 third | 18 Sep | 0% |
| The Curragh Galloping |
1 | 1 other | 16 Oct | 0% |