I've Madeupmymind

The Bangor win felt overdue. Jockey Ben Jones, who has partnered her for nine of her thirteen races and won just once aboard her — that's a win rate of roughly 1 in every 9 times they've raced together — admitted as much afterwards, calling her "a little terrier" and suggesting the result should have come sooner. It's the kind of comment that tells you something: this is a horse with real character, perhaps more ability than her record suggests, and one that has occasionally made life difficult for the people trying to bring out the best in her.

Trainer Ben Pauling was refreshingly candid about that even before the Bangor win came. Speaking during a stable tour in November 2024, he acknowledged that he and Jones had "messed it up a few times" with her, but remained confident she had the ability to win twice at her level — which, given she competes mainly in Class 4 races (one win from seven attempts there, so 14%, or roughly 1 in every 7), would represent genuine progress. Pauling is based at Naunton in Gloucestershire and has sent out 89 winners this season alone, so this is a yard that knows how to get horses winning — the question is whether I've Madeupmymind can cooperate more consistently.

Her recent form reads 4-6-8-2 around two blanks, which tells you she is placing regularly enough but not threatening at the top. She raced just yesterday, which means the yard are keeping her busy. With one win, five places, and a trainer who still believes in her potential, she is not a horse to write off — but she is also one that has made you wait long enough to wonder whether that February afternoon at Bangor might remain the highlight of her career, or just the opening chapter.