Tune In A Box

The seven-year-old has a career record of 3 wins and 8 places from 19 races, which works out to winning roughly 1 in every 6 outings. That's a respectable haul, though the timing of those wins matters. The most recent came nearly two years ago, at Punchestown in Ireland on 30 April 2024, and the six races since have produced two runner-up finishes but no return to the winner's enclosure. The recent form reads 2-3-7-5-5-2 — competitive enough that you wouldn't write the horse off, but without that final gear it needs to get back to winning.

Stan Sheppard rides most often, having been in the saddle for 13 of Tune In A Box's 19 races. Together they've won 2 of those — about 1 in every 6-and-a-half starts — which mirrors the horse's overall record. That consistency between horse and jockey matters; Sheppard knows this animal's quirks as well as anyone.

The one glaring gap in the CV is at Class 3 level, one step below the very top tier of British racing. Tune In A Box has run 8 races at that grade and come away without a win — 0 from 8. That might sound damning, but it also tells you the team believes the horse belongs in better company, which is its own kind of compliment. Meanwhile, Tom Lacey's yard has been in fine form this season, sending out 37 winners, so confidence around Woolhope is not in short supply. Racing just 22 days ago, Tune In A Box is clearly fit and ready. The question now is whether the skies will open in time to give it the conditions it craves.