Listentoyourheart

What makes her particularly compelling is the way she wins, not just that she does. Her jockey Tristan Durrell described her at Windsor as "genuine and gutsy" — the sort of horse that, when another comes to challenge her, finds more rather than flinching. Dan Skelton, her trainer, told a similar story after Newbury: when the horses in front quickened up, Listentoyourheart took five strides to respond while others reacted instantly. Most horses would have called it a day in that moment. She went through the gap anyway. That kind of character is rare.

The partnership with Harry Skelton — Dan's brother — has been particularly potent. In seven races together, Harry has ridden her to four wins, a remarkable 57% win rate. That's more than 1 in every 2 races they've shared. She's also a horse who clearly loves normal ground conditions, winning 4 of her 7 races on a good surface. Put those two things together and you have a horse with a very specific sweet spot: right conditions, right jockey, big occasion.

Dan Skelton's yard at Alcester has sent out 194 winners this season alone, which puts it among the most productive training operations in the country. Within that operation, Listentoyourheart has carved out a place as one of the yard's more exciting flagbearers. Skelton has hinted she could head to Aintree — home of the Grand National festival — rather than rushing her back too soon. Given what she showed this season, that's a trip worth watching for.