Madman

The horse really comes alive on fast, dry ground. When the surface is firm, Madman wins roughly one race in every three (2 wins from 6)—a marked step up from his overall record. This kind of preference is useful to know; it narrows the times he is most likely to trouble the judge. He is also a course specialist at Windsor, where he has two wins from six runs. His most recent victory came there just two weeks ago, which is exactly the kind of confidence builder a horse of his ability needs.

Madman races for the yard of Rachel Cook and John Bridger at Liphook in Hampshire, a stable that has sent out seven winners this season. In the saddle, he is most often partnered with jockey Alec Voikhansky, though they have won just once from six rides together—a better win rate than his overall record, but hardly a telepathic partnership. At the level Madman typically races, Class 6, he has managed only one win from eight attempts, suggesting he may be at the ceiling of his ability when placed among stronger rivals. All the same, a horse that wins on the ground that suits him and shows fight when conditions are right remains a prospect worth watching when the forecast turns dry.