Personal Best

Her first win came at Leicester in October 2024 after the trainer, Jonathan Portman of Upper Lambourn, needed some persuading from the horse's long-standing owner and breeder, Rosa Pease. Portman had tempered his expectations that day, unsure how the filly would handle the heavy, wet ground, but Personal Best delivered. Since then she has found the winner's circle twice more, most recently at Sandown, though that particular victory seems to have left something to be desired in Portman's assessment. He describes her as a lovely staying type who ideally wants some give in the ground — the soft, muddy conditions that suit horses built for distance. The recent disappointment at Sandown suggests she may need a return to those ideal conditions to get back on track, and with her win rate sitting at a healthy 21%, she is worth following the next time rain is forecast and she lines up in a Class 4 or easier race where she has previously shown real form.