Spirit Catcher

The most striking number in Spirit Catcher's record is this: two wins from just three races on wet, soft ground. That's a 67% win rate, which is extraordinary in any sport, let alone one as unpredictable as horse racing. Most horses have a preference; Spirit Catcher has something closer to a superpower. When the rain comes and the ground gets soft underfoot, this horse transforms.

The partnership with jockey Joe Fanning tells a similar story. Together they've won 3 of their 10 races — 30%, or nearly 1 in 3 — which is a remarkable hit rate at any level. In a sport where a good jockey-horse combination takes time to build, that kind of record suggests Fanning genuinely understands how to get the best out of this horse. Philip Kirby's yard in North Yorkshire has sent out 36 winners already this season, so Spirit Catcher is operating within a team in form.

What's honest to acknowledge is the Class 2 problem. Spirit Catcher has been placed in the top races in Britain on 12 occasions and has yet to win at that level — 0 from 12. That's not failure exactly, but it does suggest there's a ceiling. These are competitive fields, and placing 13 times without a win at the highest level is the mark of a horse that turns up and tries hard without quite having the firepower to beat the very best.

The recent form is genuinely encouraging, though. After some mid-field finishes — positions of 8, 11, 11, and 13 — Spirit Catcher bounced back with a second place followed by a win at Musselburgh just three weeks ago. That win, on 29 April 2026, suggests the horse is in the form of its life right now. It raced again just yesterday, which means the yard are clearly keen to keep the momentum going while conditions are in their favour. A seven-year-old with a recent win, a yard firing on all cylinders, and a jockey who knows exactly what to do — Spirit Catcher is worth watching whenever the forecast turns grey.