Marty McFly

The career numbers tell an interesting story on their own. Six wins and eight places from 23 races, with a win rate of roughly 1 in every 4 — that is a solid return at any level. But it is the class of racing he has found his sweet spot in that explains the performance. In Class 5 races, the level just above the very bottom rung of British racing, Marty McFly has won 5 of 13 — that is 38%, almost 2 in every 5 races entered. Find the right race and the right conditions, and this horse delivers.

Sandy Thomson's yard has been in fine form this season, sending out 18 winners, and Marty McFly has been doing his share. After Thomson admitted earlier in the year that he was still getting to know the horse — and that a poor run on particularly wet and muddy ground at Ayr had left him scratching his head — the pieces have clearly come together. The trainer's comments after the most recent win at Carlisle last month said everything: "What a star Marty McFly is. His jumping has got better and better and he probably jumped even better again today. He didn't miss a beat." That is not the language of a trainer managing expectations. That is genuine delight.

The jockey picture is worth noting. Ryan Mania has ridden him in 7 of his races, winning once — a 14% win rate, or roughly 1 in 7. That sits below Marty McFly's overall average, which suggests the horse may simply be hard to place on his best days whatever the rider. He raced just yesterday, so Thomson clearly has him in a good rhythm and is not shy about keeping him busy while the confidence is high.

A horse who has won 4 of his last 6 races, is trained by a yard firing on all cylinders, and whose trainer is talking about his jumping in almost reverent terms — Marty McFly is the kind of straightforward, honest performer that makes northern jump racing worth following.