The recent form makes for slightly sobering reading. That second-place finish now sits at the back end of a five-race sequence, with the last few outings returning a sixth, seventh, and fifth. The horse raced just yesterday, so it is clearly being kept busy, but the direction of travel in those latest runs is something the yard will want to address.
On the positive side, Island Bear is trained by Dr Richard Newland and Jamie Insole at their yard in Elmbridge, Worcestershire — and that matters. With 49 winners already on the board this season, this is a team that clearly knows how to get horses to win. Having that kind of operation behind a young horse that is still searching for its first victory is a reasonable source of optimism. Yards that win nearly 50 races in a season do not tend to run horses without a plan, and a three-year-old with placing form is not a lost cause — it simply has not found the right moment yet.
The big question now is whether Island Bear can translate that placed form into a win before the season is out. At three years old, there is time on its side, and with a high-volume, successful training team pulling the strings, the first win may not be too far away.
| Course | Races | Results | Last visited | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salisbury Undulating |
1 | 1 third | 25 Jun | 0% |
| Southwell Galloping |
1 | 1 other | 7 Apr | 0% |
| Nottingham Galloping |
1 | 1 other | 19 May | 0% |
| Goodwood Undulating |
1 | 1 other | 2 Aug | 0% |
| Haydock Park Galloping |
1 | 1 second | 23 May | 0% |