Lookaway

The story behind those numbers is even more compelling. After his career began to gather real momentum, Lookaway developed a serious breathing condition called an epiglottic entrapment — a problem that required two separate surgical procedures to fix and, for a time, left his entire future as a racehorse in doubt. Jockey Jack Quinlan, who knows this horse better than almost anyone, rides him every day at trainer Neil King's yard in Wroughton and has spoken openly about how close it came. The horse missed what should have been a significant stage of his development, and yet here he is, winning at the highest level. The fact that he came back at all is the story. The fact that he came back winning is something else entirely.

Quinlan and Lookaway have now raced together 19 times, producing 8 wins — a win rate of 42%, or nearly 3 in every 7 races as a partnership. That kind of consistency between a rider and a horse is rare and usually means something real is happening between them. King's yard has sent out 16 winners this season alone, and Lookaway may be the one they talk about most. King himself has said the horse might be the best in the stable, adding that he would rather keep him winning sensibly than drag him to a big festival just for the occasion.

There is also a course record worth flagging. At Uttoxeter, Lookaway has won 3 of his 4 visits — a dominant record at a track where most horses are grateful to finish placed. His recent form reads second, first, first, third, third, third across his last six races, suggesting a horse coming back to his very best. He raced just one day ago and is firmly in the middle of his season. Whatever comes next, Lookaway is not finished surprising people.