Smokey Malone

The most striking thing about Smokey Malone, though, is what happens when the trip to Southwell comes up on the calendar. At that particular track in Nottinghamshire, this horse has won 5 times from just 13 races — that's more than 1 in every 3 visits ending in a winner. In racing, finding a horse that genuinely loves a specific course is rare and valuable. The most recent of those Southwell wins came as recently as three months ago, in February 2026, so this is no fading memory of better days. The horse is still doing it.

Current form backs that up. In its last six races, Smokey Malone has won twice, with a couple of unplaced efforts sandwiched in between. Two wins from six races is a 33% win rate — well above its career average of roughly 1 win in every 6.5 races (15%). Something appears to be clicking right now.

Much of the credit for that partnership belongs to jockey Dylan Hogan, who has ridden Smokey Malone in 46 of its 52 career races. All 8 wins have come with Hogan in the saddle, a win rate of 17% together — wins in roughly 1 in every 6 races they've run as a pair. That kind of continuity between horse and rider is unusual and worth noting. The Birkett yard, meanwhile, has sent out 15 winners already this season, so the stable is in good form.

The preferred trip is a mile and three to a mile and four furlongs — a middle-distance route that suits the horse's stamina. At that range, Smokey Malone has won 2 from 8, a 25% win rate, which is comfortably the best of any distance band in its career. Put this horse on its favourite track, at its favourite distance, with its regular jockey, and you have a combination that has a very clear and recent habit of winning.