Washington

Across 22 races, Washington has won 5 and placed 11 times — that is a win rate of 23%, or roughly 1 in every 4 races. For a horse operating at Class 3 level, which is a solid mid-tier of British racing, that is a respectable record. At that level specifically, he has won 2 from 8, a 25% win rate, which suggests he belongs there rather than being out of his depth. His first win came at Bangor-on-Dee back in October 2021, and his most recent came at Chepstow in October 2025 — nearly four years apart, which tells you this is a horse that has been carefully managed over a long career rather than burned through quickly.

The Chepstow win is worth dwelling on. Derham has spoken about how Washington took time to come right, and that the patience of the owners was eventually rewarded. Shortly afterwards, Derham targeted a race at Fairyhouse — a big, galloping track in Ireland — and explicitly ruled out Cheltenham on the grounds that it would not suit the horse. That kind of decision-making matters. The plan worked, and Derham admitted afterwards that it is very rare in racing for a plan to come together so cleanly. That it did says something about how well this team knows their horse.

His most productive partnership has been with jockey Paul O'Brien, who has ridden him to 3 wins from just 5 races together — winning 60% of the time, or 3 in every 5 rides. That is a striking number and suggests the two have developed a real understanding. His recent form reads 10-8-5-7-11-1 from the last six races, with that single win at Chepstow standing out against some ordinary efforts, but he raced just yesterday and remains active. Derham has hinted at a spring festival target on fast, dry ground as a goal, noting that Washington is nearly back to his career-best level — which, in racing terms, means life is getting harder for him, not easier. But then, this is a horse that has never been in a hurry.