Shrimp Shady

The pattern is becoming clear. Shrimp Shady thrives on fast, dry ground and loves the space of longer distances—over two miles—where it has won 2 of 4 races (a 50% win rate). On fast ground alone, the record is even more impressive: 2 wins from 3 races (67%). The horse's last victory came at Newbury just five weeks ago, which means Shrimp Shady is still in form and still racing actively. Rob Hornby, who has ridden the horse five times, boasts a 40% win rate in the saddle (2 wins from 5), suggesting a strong partnership.

Andrew Balding's Kingsclere yard has had a prolific season with 202 winners, and Shrimp Shady represents the kind of late developer that good trainers know how to coax along. The horse has now won 4 of 14 races overall—a respectable 29% win rate—and notably performs much better in top-class races than in lower-grade contests, where the record is just 1 win from 6 attempts. This is a horse that steps up on the big stage, which is exactly what you want to see in a four-year-old that has only recently found the winning formula.