Mr Freedom

Trained by Sheena West at her yard in Lewes, West Sussex, Mr Freedom has been one of eight winners the team has sent out this season. His regular partner in the saddle is Marc Goldstein, who has ridden him in 19 of his races and won on him four times — a win rate of about 1 in 5 together, which suggests a genuine understanding between horse and jockey. West tends to pitch him at Class 4 level, and at that level Mr Freedom is genuinely impressive, winning 7 of 11 races — nearly two in every three — which tells you he is exactly the right horse for the right grade.

What really makes him interesting is how specific his conditions need to be. On fast, dry ground, he has won 2 of his 4 races, a 50% record that would be remarkable in any company. And at a distance of a mile and three to a mile and four furlongs, he has won 4 of just 5 races — an 80% record that is about as close to a banker as racing allows. If you see him lining up at that distance on dry summer ground, you pay attention. Windsor is another happy hunting ground, with 2 wins from 4 races there — enough to call him a course specialist at a track that clearly suits his style.

His recent form reads 3–-–3-5-6-1, meaning he has been a little in and out but showed a flash of his best when winning at Sandown Park back in July 2024. That was 22 months ago now, so his supporters will be keen to see him rediscover that winning thread. He raced just yesterday, so he is very much in active training and clearly being kept busy. The first win came at Fontwell Park in September 2022, and since then he has built a solid, consistent record — the kind of horse who might never trouble the sport's biggest occasions, but who earns his keep and then some.