Operation Gimcrack

What makes Operation Gimcrack slightly interesting is his preference for normal ground conditions. On firm or wet surfaces, he is just another runner. But when the ground is riding true and standard, he wins roughly one in four races (2 wins from 8)—a rate that stands out against his overall record. Given that he typically races in Class 6 events and has won 2 of his 14 starts at that level, he appears perfectly pitched where he is. Bryan Smart's Sutton Bank yard, which has sent out 18 winners this season, seems to have the measure of him. The puzzle is his partnership with regular jockey Harrison Shaw: the pair have raced together seven times without a win between them, which suggests either the combination simply does not quite click, or the horse performs better for other hands. For a horse still racing at six, Operation Gimcrack is a reliable if unspectacular fixture at the lower end of the sport—a solid earner for his the yard rather than a rising star.