Afta Party

Kathy Turner's yard at Sigwells in Somerset has kept Afta Party ticking over for years now, which speaks to some level of faith, even if recent results have been grinding. The horse hasn't won since Worcester on 1 July 2024, nearly two and a half years ago, and its form in the last six races has been modest—mostly lower placings and finishes outside the top three, with a best effort of fifth place. At Class 5 level, where it has run most often, it has managed just 1 win from 17 races. On fast, dry ground and over shorter distances, Afta Party has been a long shot. But at Long Distance races (2 miles and beyond), the win rate climbs to 18% (2 wins from 11 races), suggesting that stamina suits it better than speed.

With jockey Fergus Gillard, the record is thin but slightly better—1 win from 8 races together, or 12%. Afta Party raced just a day ago, which means Turner is still running it regularly and looking for an opportunity. For a horse this age and at this level, staying sound and competitive is a small victory in itself. The real one—the next win—will likely come on a wet day, over a longer trip, at a track where experience counts more than pure speed.