Ski Angel

Across 42 races in total, Ski Angel has won 6 times and placed a further 11, giving her a win rate of around 1 in every 7 races — solid rather than spectacular, but the picture gets far more interesting when you zoom in on her favourite track. At Musselburgh, she has won 3 times from 17 races, a record that puts her firmly in the category of course specialist. Tracks suit individual horses for all sorts of reasons — the shape of the bends, the camber of the ground, the way the race tends to be run — and whatever it is about Musselburgh, Ski Angel clearly thrives there. Her most recent win came at that track in October 2025, just eight months ago.

Ground conditions matter too. On wet or muddy ground she has won 2 of her 4 races — that is a 50% win rate, which is extraordinary — and on slightly soft ground she has won 2 from 9. When the rain comes, Ski Angel's the yard pay attention. She competes mostly in Class 6 races, the entry-level tier of British racing, but her trainer's comments suggest she has the ability to move up the ranks. After winning at Ayr recently she was given a 5lb penalty by the handicapper — racing's way of making life harder for a horse that wins too convincingly — but the trainer's view is that she handled that race with something to spare and belongs in the high 50s to low 60s rating bracket.

R Mike Smith's yard has been in good form this season, sending out 25 winners, and Ski Angel raced just one day ago — she is very much an active part of that operation. With recent form reading fifth, fourth, ninth, fifth, first and fourth, she has not always been consistent, but the pieces are in place: the right track, the right ground, and a trainer who clearly believes in her.