Matty's Getaway

The backstory makes the record even more impressive. On its debut at Chepstow, Matty's Getaway was almost brought down at the third-last fence, losing 12 lengths in a moment that would have ended most horses' chances entirely — jockey Tom Bellamy was reportedly hanging off one side before the horse somehow got going again and finished third. That was not a bad run; that was a remarkable one. A return to Chepstow followed, but the ground had turned wet and muddy, and Matty's Getaway made clear it had no interest in those conditions, finishing behind Sober Glory. The team took the hint.

The first win came at Doncaster in November 2025, on faster ground that suited the horse far better, and joint-trainer Mat Nicholls was full of praise for jockey Ciaran Gethings, who gave the horse plenty of room to run in the straight and was rewarded with a strong finish. That race showed what Matty's Getaway can do when conditions are right and the tactics are sound. The horse now carries a rating of 125, which the yard considers a fair reflection of where it stands.

Most recently, Matty's Getaway won at Haydock Park just this week — the most recent of its 5 races — confirming that the Doncaster win was no fluke. The team behind it is in good shape too: the Kim Bailey and Mat Nicholls yard, based in Cheltenham, has sent out 31 winners this season, suggesting a stable that is firing on all cylinders. With soft ground to be avoided and the spring campaign the likely next target, Matty's Getaway looks like a horse with more wins still to come.