That single win came at Sandown Park in February 2025, and Henderson is candid about what it was worth: a modest race, not a particularly deep field. The consequence is that the handicapper gave Tradecraft an opening mark of 119, which is the official rating that determines how much weight he carries in future races. The worry for the team is that 119 may be a touch flattering given the quality of what he beat — it means he'll need to keep improving just to be competitive. To put that in context, at the grade he's been running in most often (Class 4), he's yet to win from four attempts, which suggests he's been finding life tricky against that level of competition.
The more intriguing development is that Tradecraft is now switching to chasing — jumping fences rather than the smaller hurdles he's raced over so far. This is a significant change of discipline, and one Henderson clearly thinks suits him. Many horses genuinely improve when they make the switch, finding a new lease of energy and confidence over the bigger obstacles. Whether Tradecraft is one of them is the question his next few races will answer.
His most productive distance has been between a mile and six furlongs and two miles, where he's won 1 from 3 (33%), and Nico de Boinville, one of the best jump jockeys in the country, has been his regular partner — winning 1 of their 5 races together. With Henderson's yard firing and a new challenge ahead over fences, the next chapter for Tradecraft is genuinely worth watching.
| Course | Races | Results | Last visited | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sandown Park Galloping |
2 | 1 win, 1 other | 13 Feb | 50% |
| Punchestown Galloping |
2 | 2 other | 30 Apr | 0% |
| Ascot Galloping |
1 | 1 second | 25 Nov | 0% |
| Bangor-on-Dee Sharp |
1 | 1 other | 27 Oct | 0% |
| Southwell Galloping |
1 | 1 other | 14 Dec | 0% |
| Ffos Las Galloping |
1 | 1 third | 12 Apr | 0% |
| Kempton Park Galloping |
1 | 1 second | 9 Feb | 0% |
| Newbury Galloping |
1 | 1 other | 28 Feb | 0% |