Winds Of Winter

The overall career record reads 3 wins and 13 places from 24 races — a win rate of around 1 in every 8 outings, or 12% if you prefer the number. That is a perfectly respectable tally for a horse at this level, where the fields are competitive and the margins are small. At Class 5, which is where Winds Of Winter tends to line up, it has won 2 of 10 races — a rate of 1 in 5, which tells you it is competitive at that level rather than just making up the numbers. The 13 placed finishes across a 24-race career also suggest a horse that is almost always in the conversation, even when it does not win.

Conditions matter too. On slightly soft ground — a little moisture in the surface, but not muddy — Winds Of Winter has won 2 of 6 races, a rate of 1 in 3. That is genuinely strong, and it makes the horse far more interesting to follow when the forecast turns damp. Trainer George Bewley, based in Cumbria and therefore no stranger to a wet afternoon, has sent out 7 winners this season from his yard, suggesting a stable in decent form. The most regular jockey has been Brian Hughes, who has yet to get Winds Of Winter into the winner's enclosure across 9 rides together — though the horse's placed record shows it has been running well regardless.

At 8 years old, Winds Of Winter is an experienced campaigner who knows exactly what it is doing. The most recent form figures — a fourth, then a second, then a win at Cartmel in July — show a horse that builds into its season. It raced just one day ago, so it is in the thick of things right now. If you are looking for a horse to follow this summer, particularly on a soft day at a small northern track, Winds Of Winter is worth your attention.