Space Bear

Trained by Michael Appleby out of Oakham in Rutland, Space Bear is part of a yard operating at a serious level right now — 79 winners already this season is a big number, and it tells you Appleby knows how to place his horses and get results. Space Bear's first win came at Wolverhampton in July 2025, and then a second followed at Great Yarmouth in April 2026, about four weeks ago. Two different tracks, two wins — that's a horse who isn't just suited to one particular venue.

The most interesting detail in Space Bear's record is the performance at seven furlongs to a mile. Over that trip, the horse has won 1 from 3 races — that's a 33% win rate, roughly one in every three, which is genuinely strong. Compare that to the overall record of roughly one win in every five races across all distances, and it becomes clear there's a preferred range where Space Bear is most dangerous. Most horses at this level win far less than one in three at any distance, so when the conditions suit — right trip, right track — this is a horse to pay attention to.

Space Bear typically competes at Class 5, which represents the bread-and-butter level of British racing — competitive but not the top tier. At that level the horse has won 1 from 5, or 20% of the time, which is respectable. The recent form reads 9-3-1-5-2-3 (most recent first), meaning Space Bear finished ninth last time out after a string of placed efforts, with that Class win sandwiched in there. A ninth-place finish after winning four weeks ago is not a disaster — horses have off days — and the fact the horse raced just yesterday suggests the team are keeping Space Bear busy and confident. One to watch when the trip and track line up.