Ormolulu

Southwell is Ormolulu's track. She has won there 5 times from 18 races, a figure that tells you she does not just cope with the place — she genuinely thrives on it. Most horses who string together that kind of record at one course have found something that clicks, whether it is the shape of the track, the surface, or simply the distances on offer. Whatever it is for Ormolulu, Southwell has been the making of her. Her last win came there on 21 February 2025, though at 15 months ago, that feels a while back now.

Recent form has been frustrating — she has not won in her last six races, with finishes of 14th, 6th, 7th, 3rd, 5th, and 10th reading more like a horse that has lost her way than one sitting on the edge of a big performance. But trainer Gemma Tutty — who has sent out 20 winners from her yard in Osmotherley this season alone — does not sound worried. She points to a run at York last summer where Ormolulu finished on the bridle but simply could not find a clear run through the field on multiple occasions — bad luck rather than a lack of ability. A comeback run at Leicester has now blown away the cobwebs, and York is next on the agenda.

Saffie Osborne is the regular partner, having ridden her in 13 races together for 2 wins — the same 15% win rate as Ormolulu's overall record. The combination clearly works when the pieces fall into place. The question now is whether Ormolulu can replicate her Southwell form somewhere a little more prestigious. Tutty clearly believes she can, and with a full season of winners behind the yard, this is a team in confident shape. One clean run in a race she suits could change the narrative quickly.