Lihyan

What makes Lihyan's story particularly compelling is how much he has improved through a change in approach. Menzies switched him to waiting tactics and moved him up in distance, and the results were immediate. He won three races over hurdles in a single season, a burst of form that suggests the team had finally cracked the code. The trainer believes he needs a strong gallop to bring out his best — he is not a horse who wants to coast along in a slowly-run race. Give him a genuine test of stamina and he thrives.

His partnership with jockey William Maggs is worth noting. The two have raced together 20 times, producing 5 wins between them — a 25% win rate, 1 in every 4 races. That is noticeably better than Lihyan's overall career average, which points to genuine chemistry between horse and rider rather than coincidence.

His most recent win came at Newbury eight weeks ago, on 20 March 2026, and his last six runs read 3-2-9-1-7-4 in reverse — meaning a win, a second, then a more mixed spell. That recent inconsistency is worth watching, but the trainer's view is that when conditions are right — decent ground, a strong pace, a long enough trip — Lihyan is capable of winning in better company than he has typically faced. The 3-mile races at Musselburgh in wetter conditions are flagged as ideal targets, and the Menzies yard is in strong form with 36 winners already this season.

For a horse who started his winning account at Cork back in July 2022, Lihyan has come a long way. He is not flashy, and he is not competing at the very top level, but he is a horse with a clear identity — a stayer who wants a real race and rewards patience when he gets one.