Jakajaro

Across 29 career races in total, Jakajaro has won 4 times and finished placed a further 12 times, giving it a win rate of around 1 in every 7 races. That is a horse who is rarely embarrassed but has had to work hard for its victories. The career began with a win at The Curragh in Ireland back in July 2023, which suggested early promise, but the journey since has been steady rather than spectacular. Two wins from the last six races, though, is a sharp upturn — that is the kind of form that catches the eye.

The partnership with jockey Luke McAteer is worth noting. The two have raced together 13 times, producing 2 wins — roughly 1 in every 6 rides — which is a decent enough record, but the York win this week suggests the combination may be hitting its stride at exactly the right moment. Recent finishing positions of 1, 1, 5, 3, 3, 3 tell a clear story: a horse that was knocking on the door consistently, and has now kicked it open twice in a row.

Robert Cowell's yard has been in excellent form this season, sending out 24 winners already, which means Jakajaro is operating within a team that clearly knows how to get a horse ready to win. For a 5-year-old that has just cracked its Class 2 duck at one of the most prestigious tracks in the country, the timing feels interesting. Whether York turns out to be a turning point or simply a good week, the recent record makes Jakajaro one to keep an eye on.