Spirit Of Applause

The horse last won at Southwell on 21 September 2025—a full year ago—which suggests it has been trying hard without finding the winner's enclosure lately. Indeed, its last six races show only one place in the frame, a fourth placing sandwiched between three thirds and two seconds. This is the form of a horse gradually sliding out of contention but still fighting. The real clue to its best chances lies in sprints over shorter distances: at races under five furlongs, Spirit Of Applause has won 1 of its 4 outings, a 25% win rate that stands out sharply against its overall record. That said, it has struggled at higher class levels, managing zero wins from 21 races in Class 4 company—the kind of pattern that suggests it needs easier opposition to finish in front.

Jockey Sean Kirrane has ridden the horse 21 times and won three of those races, a rate of roughly 1 in 7 efforts, slightly better than the horse's overall record. The trainer, Tim Easterby, runs a successful yard in Great Habton in North Yorkshire that sent out 128 winners this season, so the support is solid. Spirit Of Applause may not light up the form book, but it remains a game, genuine competitor with occasional flash-points of form—particularly over shorter trips where it has shown it can still find the front.