Star Start

His recent form tells the story of a horse still capable of competing at the sharp end of this level. Four weeks ago he won at Pontefract on 5 August, suggesting he remains active and engaged. His last six races show two wins, two seconds, a third, and a fifth—the kind of consistent placing record that suggests a horse with plenty of racing left in him. Jockey Charli Parker has become his regular partner, and the pair have built a genuine understanding. Parker rides him in one in every five-and-a-bit races, and when she does, he wins about one in every five-and-a-half outings (3 wins from 16)—better than his overall win rate. Trainer Ruth Carr, based at Stillington in North Yorkshire, has clearly tailored her approach to him. After buying him specifically for Parker, who rides as an amateur from the yard, Carr has allowed him time to develop, betting that he will return to form this season. His recent win at Pontefract, where Parker had to sit and suffer before making her move down the home stretch, showed exactly the kind of tactical patience that has kept this partnership competitive.