Pisanello

David O'Meara trains him out of Upper Helmsley in North Yorkshire, and it's a yard that clearly knows what it's doing — 107 winners this season alone. O'Meara once described Pisanello as a nice, big horse with some form from France, the kind who could have a decent summer if things fell right. That assessment proved true: Pisanello found his best form over a mile and a bit, winning 4 of his 33 races at that distance — roughly 1 in every 8, which is where his record genuinely holds up. When the ground gets slightly soft, he improves noticeably too, winning 2 of 9 races in those conditions — nearly 1 in 4, which is a meaningful step up from his overall numbers.

His most recent win came at York in June 2024, which is now nearly two years ago, and his last six runs have produced nothing better than a fourth place. At nine, and competing mostly at Class 4 level — solid, respectable racing, if not the very top tier — the big moments may be behind him. Still, he raced just yesterday, which says everything about his soundness and the team's belief in keeping him active.

Jockey Daniel Tudhope has ridden him more than anyone, partnering him in 18 of his 50 races and winning once together — a 6% win rate, or roughly 1 in 17. That's below Pisanello's overall average, though it hasn't stopped the partnership continuing. For a horse of his age and record, the story now is less about chasing wins and more about where those wins might still come from — a slightly soft day, a mile and a bit, and perhaps a return to York, where he signed off his last winning chapter.