Pleasington

Those conditions, it turns out, involve a lot of rain. On wet, muddy ground, Pleasington has won 2 of his 3 races — a 67% record that is not a fluke, it is a pattern. Trainer Olly Murphy spotted it early, and after Pleasington finally broke his duck at Leicester in January 2025, Murphy was candid about what the journey had looked like from the inside: ability was never in doubt, but the horse had simply been a slow burner. Three runs across three years tells its own story about the interruptions along the way.

Murphy's yard at Wilmcote has sent out 146 winners this season alone, so this is not an outfit that carries passengers. The fact that they kept faith with Pleasington through the lean spells says something. And that faith has now been rewarded with a win at Ayr just this week — his most recent race, run just a day ago — making this a horse whose form is genuinely live right now. Sean Bowen, who rides him more than anyone else, has won 2 of their 5 races together. That is a 40% win rate when they are paired up, which for a horse who wins roughly 1 in every 5 races overall, suggests the partnership is bringing out something extra.

The one note of caution is his Class 3 record: zero wins from seven attempts at that level. His wins have come when conditions have aligned perfectly — particularly the wet ground he adores. Step him up in class and the question marks return. But right now, with a win this week, a jockey who clearly suits him, and a trainer who has been patient enough to find out exactly what makes him tick, Pleasington looks like a horse finally running to his potential rather than beneath it.