Under Curfew

Trained by Tony Carroll at his yard in Cropthorne, Worcestershire, Under Curfew competes almost exclusively at Class 6, the entry level of British racing. He has won 3 of his 49 races at that level — about 1 in every 16 — which sounds modest until you consider that most horses at this grade are here because winning anywhere is hard. Carroll is clearly a trainer who knows how to place a horse, and this season his yard has sent out 136 winners, which marks him out as someone who keeps a busy, productive stable.

Under Curfew's most recent win came at Wolverhampton in February 2025, which is now over 15 months ago, and his last six races have all been placed finishes rather than wins — finishing in the top four each time but not quite getting there. That kind of consistent placing is not nothing; it means he is competitive and showing up, even if the winner's photograph has eluded him. His first career win came at Bath in May 2024, and Carroll revealed shortly afterwards that the horse had won there and then followed up at Salisbury the following month — a purple patch for a horse of his level. Carroll also noted that a fast, dry five-furlong sprint probably stretched him, describing him as more of a six-furlong horse, and suggested that all types of ground suit him.

Jockey Mollie Phillips, who has ridden Under Curfew in 22 of his races without a win between them, was notably emotional after his Bath victory, saying she could not stop screaming from two furlongs out. That reaction says something about what it feels like to finally get a result with a horse you have been working hard on for a long time.

Racing yesterday and still in the game at ten, Under Curfew is exactly the kind of horse that keeps smaller yards ticking over — never the star, always present, and occasionally delivering a moment worth shouting about.