Al Najashi

Trained by Ollie Sangster at Marlborough in Wiltshire, Al Najashi clearly performs best on normal ground. He has won 5 of his 7 races on standard conditions — a 71% win rate on that surface — which tells you this horse prefers firm footing and does not like it soft or waterlogged. He made his breakthrough at Southwell in January and has been consistent ever since. What really stands out is his love affair with Newcastle. In just 3 races at that track, he has won twice, and his most recent victory there came in early April. That kind of dominance at a single course is the sort of detail that gets noted in racing circles; some horses just suit a place, and Newcastle appears to be Al Najashi's stage.

The partnership with jockey Stevie Donohoe has been especially effective. Together they have won 3 of 5 races — a 60% win rate — which suggests they understand each other. Donohoe gets the best out of him more often than not. When they have run, the results speak louder than most. His recent form does show some dips: a 12th place a week or so back was a blemish, but that came off the back of winning races, and horses occasionally have off days. What matters is the overall pattern: a young, lightly raced horse with a sharp win rate, a proven track specialist, and a jockey who knows how to ride him. Al Najashi looks the sort of horse that could have plenty more to offer.