Kihavah

The most recent of those big wins came at Musselburgh in April 2025, and it tells you a lot about what kind of horse Kihavah is. Jockey PJ McDonald described him as "an absolute legend" and said horses like him don't come around that often — high praise from a man who rides at the top level week in, week out. McDonald has a remarkable record on him, winning 2 of their 5 races together, which works out at 40% — an extraordinary hit rate by any measure. Keatley's instructions that day were simple: take your time and be brave. That about sums Kihavah up. He is not a horse who makes life easy, but he rewards patience.

The numbers tell an interesting story about where and how he performs best. At Musselburgh he has won 2 from just 3 visits — the kind of course record that gets trainers excited. His sweet spot in terms of distance is a mile and three to a mile and four furlongs, where he has won 3 from 8 races (38%) — almost 2 in every 5 outings at that trip. His trainer has been clear that a mile and six stretches his stamina beyond what he likes. He handles both wet and dry ground well, with win rates of 27% and 29% respectively across those conditions.

Behind the scenes, Keatley has clearly put serious work into managing this horse carefully. There have been wind operations, deliberate breaks between campaigns, and a clear plan to target the big summer prizes. At this year's Summer Hurdle he carried a penalty 10 pounds heavier than last year and still gave the winner 17 pounds — that is the kind of performance that does not always show up in a result but speaks to real quality. His recent form reads 8-7-4-8-5-3, so the wins have dried up over the last six runs, but with Keatley pointing him at the Ebor — one of the most prestigious flat races of the summer — it is clear the yard believes there is another big day in him yet.