The overall numbers back that up. From just 9 races, Hotazhell has won 4 and finished in the places a further 6 times — a win rate of 44%, which means it has won nearly 1 in every 2 races it has entered. For context, most good racehorses win somewhere between 1 in 5 and 1 in 4 races across a career. Winning almost half the time is exceptional. The partnership with jockey Shane Foley has been equally consistent: 4 wins from their 9 races together, the same 44% ratio, which suggests the two have developed a real understanding.
Trainer Mrs John Harrington, whose yard in Moone, Co Kildare has sent out 52 winners this season alone, clearly knows exactly what this horse needs. One of those needs appears to be a soft surface — on wet or muddy ground, Hotazhell has won 2 of its 3 races, a success rate of 67%. That's not a coincidence; some horses simply move better when the ground gives a little. The Curragh in Ireland has also become something of a happy hunting ground, with 2 wins from 4 races there.
The one question mark heading into its return is time. Hotazhell hasn't raced in roughly six months, and its recent form does show a slight dip — after back-to-back wins, it has finished second, third, fifth and fourth in its last four outings. A break can sometimes refresh a horse, of course, but it can also mean a rusty first run back. Given everything this horse has already achieved at three years old, though, the talent is clearly there. The only real question is whether it picks up where it left off.
| Course | Races | Results | Last visited | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Curragh Galloping |
4 | 2 wins, 1 second, 1 third | 24 May | 50% |
| Leopardstown Galloping |
3 | 1 win, 2 other | 13 Sep | 33.3% |
| Doncaster Galloping |
1 | 1 win | 26 Oct | 100% |
| Sandown Park Galloping |
1 | 1 other | 5 Jul | 0% |