Kitsune Power

The horse is a Beverley specialist, having won twice from just six races at the track. His last victory there came seven weeks ago, and his trainer Tim Easterby, who runs a powerful yard in North Yorkshire sending out winners regularly, has identified a clear sweet spot: Kitsune Power performs best over a mile and a quarter to a mile and two furlongs, winning three of thirteen races at that distance — a rate of roughly one in every four outings. More revealing still is his love of fast, dry ground. On such conditions he has won three times from fifteen races, a twenty per cent win rate that stands out against his overall form. Get him on firm turf at his preferred trip and track, and he becomes a notably different proposition.

Easterby has described him as well handicapped and trained well, though notably cautious about wet ground — the horse struggled on heavy turf at Ripon. David Allan has been his regular jockey but has not had much luck aboard, winning just once from eighteen rides. The jockey Kevin Stott, who partnered him to victory at Beverley, reported that Kitsune Power travelled smoothly into the race and responded when asked, suggesting there may still be more to come at slightly longer distances. Recent form has been patchy — he posted a tenth-place finish just yesterday — but his win seven weeks ago proves he remains capable of crossing the line first in the right circumstances. At seven, he is no spring chicken, yet for a horse competing largely at Class 4 level, he remains an active and useful performer.