Tribal Chief

His best racing has come on the big southern tracks. His breakthrough win came at Nottingham in June 2024, and he followed it with a memorable success at Goodwood in August 2025 — a venue that suits horses with a certain class and a willingness to pick up and fight. Jockey Sean Levey, who partnered him that day, was clear-eyed about what he saw: Tribal Chief broke well, settled beautifully, and quickened in a way that felt like there was more to come. Levey suggested he might find a few extra lengths when the ground gets a bit softer underfoot, which would make him even harder to beat through the autumn months.

The pairing to watch is Tribal Chief and Harry Davies. In five races together, Davies has ridden him to three wins — that is a 60% win rate, a remarkable number by any measure. For context, most jockey-horse partnerships would be considered strong at half that. When Davies is in the saddle, something clearly clicks.

The season has not been without its bumps. A run in France was a flat disappointment, but Menuisier later revealed Tribal Chief had returned home with a sore foot and an abscess — almost certainly suffering during the race without anyone knowing it at the time. More recently, at Newcastle, he was hemmed in on the rail with nowhere to go, leaving him stuck in traffic through the crucial stages. His finishing position of 17th told you nothing useful about where he actually stands. His recent form reads 3-3-7-17-1-6 — ignore that 17, because it was a race that never happened for him.

The one puzzle is his record in Class 1 and 2 company — the top tier of British racing. From five attempts at that level, he has yet to win, which is the frontier he still needs to cross. But Menuisier believes the mental and physical maturity is coming. He had Tribal Chief gelded over winter precisely to sharpen his focus, and by the trainer's own account, it is working. The horse is more professional now, more switched on, and he is still only five. The best may still be ahead of him.