Against The Wind

The recent form tells a compelling story. Reading those last six runs from most recent backwards — 2, 1, 1, 3, 3, 6, 1 — you can see a horse that dipped slightly in the middle of its career before rediscovering top gear. Back-to-back wins in the middle of that sequence are the kind of form that marks a horse out as genuinely in-form, and competing at Class 2 level — the second tier of British racing — makes those results even more meaningful. Against The Wind has won 2 of its 6 races at that level, a ratio of 1 in 3, which is seriously good when you consider the calibre of opposition involved.

Both of those Class 2 victories came on artificial surfaces — at Newcastle in June 2024, which was also its first career win, and then at Southwell in July 2025. There is also a fascinating detail buried in the record: on genuinely wet or muddy ground, this horse has won 2 of just 3 races, a remarkable 67% win rate. That is not a coincidence — it is a genuine preference, and one that any shrewd observer would note when the weather turns.

The partnership with jockey Tom Eaves is worth highlighting too. Together they have won 3 of their 8 races — 38%, or better than 1 in every 3 times they team up. That is the kind of chemistry between horse and rider that trainers dream about. Kevin Ryan, who bases the yard at Hambleton in North Yorkshire, has already sent out 45 winners this season alone, which speaks to a training operation firing on all cylinders. Against The Wind is clearly one of his more reliable tools.

Having raced as recently as yesterday, this is a horse right in the thick of its season — active, in form, and seemingly improving. Keep an eye on the weather forecast.