Novak

The numbers have a quiet consistency to them. Novak wins roughly 1 in every 8 races overall across his career, but on dry, fast ground that jumps to 2 wins from just 8 attempts — 1 in 4 — which is a striking difference. Jardine has been open about the fact that soft, muddy conditions just don't suit him, and the record backs that up entirely. When the sun has been out and the track is riding quick, Novak is a different animal. Wolverhampton is another place where he seems to genuinely enjoy himself — 2 wins from 7 races there, which sounds modest until you consider that most horses never win at a particular track at all.

His most trusted partner in the saddle is Archie Young, who has won 5 of their 22 races together — roughly 1 in every 4 — which is a noticeably better rate than Novak's overall career average. That kind of partnership tends to develop for a reason: a jockey who understands how a horse travels, when to ask, when to wait.

The last win came at Newcastle in September 2025, and the six races since have brought a fourth, a fifth, a sixth, a fifth, an eighth, and a second — competitive but not quite getting there. He raced just yesterday, so he is clearly fresh and in good order. Jardine has mentioned a target around the Western meeting at Ayr over seven furlongs, which carries a nice personal dimension — the owner lives nearby and would love to see his horse win on the doorstep. Given what the record shows about Novak on dry ground, a fast summer track over a trip that suits could bring the best out of him. He is not a horse that surprises anyone anymore, but sometimes the most reliable ones save their best moments for exactly the right occasion.