Prydwen

What makes Prydwen genuinely interesting is how he has learned to dominate specific surfaces and places. On normal ground — the standard going you get on most racing days — he has won 6 of his 13 races, or nearly half the time he runs. Wolverhampton is his kingdom: he has won 3 of his 4 races there, a record so dominant it stands out from every other track on his CV. When Scott said that Prydwen "loves the AW" (the artificial surface used at many tracks), he was not exaggerating. Three of his last four victories have come on artificial ground, including wins at Southwell and Newcastle in the spring of 2024, performances that convinced his trainer he had graduated to better company. "He's filled into his frame," Scott reflected after the Newcastle win. "He's a bit older and wiser and that performance opens a few doors."

The recent form tells a mixed story. His last six races show ninth place, then seventh, then first at Ripon four months ago — a welcome win — then a gap, then sixth and ninth. He raced nine days ago and came ninth, which suggests he is not quite at the level he was when he was beating Class 2 fields on the artificial tracks. But a horse this age, this durable, with this much mileage on the clock, does not retire on form alone. He shows up, he tries, and on the right surface at the right track, he still has the ability to win.