Primoz

What really sets Primoz apart is what happens when he gets to Ayr and the rain comes down. On wet or muddy ground he has won 3 of his 7 races — nearly 1 in every 2 — and his record at Ayr is almost freakish: 3 wins from just 4 visits to that track, including his first career win there in November 2023 and his most recent win just five weeks ago in March 2026. Most horses have a course they tolerate. Primoz seems to genuinely thrive at Ayr in a way that goes beyond coincidence.

His most trusted partner in the saddle is Derek Fox, who has ridden him in 14 of his 18 races and picked up 4 of those 5 wins — winning at a rate of roughly 1 in every 3.5 rides together. That kind of continuity matters. Jockey and horse build an understanding, and with a horse whose consistency has been a question mark, having the same rider who knows his quirks is worth something.

Russell, who trains him alongside Michael Scudamore from their yard in Milnathort — a yard that has sent out 49 winners already this season — has spoken warmly and honestly about the horse. She has described him as one of the most talented she has dealt with, while acknowledging that unlocking that talent reliably has required tinkering: a change to his training programme, and thoughts about stepping him up in distance to find another gear. After a recent run at Wetherby she was effusive about the way he jumped, convinced he is still improving. The recent form reads a little patchy — a win sandwiched between some mid-field finishes — but with Ayr, soft ground, and Derek Fox in the saddle, Primoz has a very specific combination that consistently brings the best out of him.