Strike

What makes Strike genuinely interesting is his clear preference for fast, dry ground. On such conditions, he wins more than 1 in every 3 races he runs, a striking contrast to his overall record. When the going is firm and the track is quick, he is a different horse entirely. This pattern has made him particularly valuable at Windsor, where he has won 2 of his last 5 races—a course where his style clearly suits the track. His most recent win came at Newbury on 9 July, just over five weeks ago, suggesting he remains competitive despite his age.

Jonathan Portman's Upper Lambourn yard clearly treasures him. The trainer describes Strike as a "dear friend" and speaks of him with genuine affection, the kind of language reserved for horses that give everything they have without complaint. After an unkind run at Newmarket last weekend on watered ground—a surface that works against him—Strike may well reappear at Windsor this Saturday. At his age and with his handicap mark dropping, his races are becoming smaller and more selective, but his record shows he can still find the winners' enclosure when conditions suit. For a horse knocking on the door of his ninth year, that is no small achievement.