Al Shabab Storm
Al Shabab Storm is a five-year-old with genuine top-level ability but a frustratingly inconsistent recent record. Trained by
Michael Appleby at Oakham, the horse has won 4 of its 23 races — a win rate of roughly 1 in every 5 — but what matters most is where those wins came from. Two of them arrived in quick succession at Chester in late June and mid-July 2024, both in top-class races, suggesting the horse is capable of beating the best when everything clicks. The third and fourth wins came at Goodwood and Newcastle, the last of those at Newcastle two months ago.
Based on TrackLab's AI analysis
Owner
Value Racing Al Shabab Storm
📊 Key Numbers
Career statistics for this horse
52.2%
Place rate (top 3)
avg ~30%
🔍 Full Analysis
TrackLab's AI-generated assessment based on career data and recent form
The puzzle is what has happened since. In the last six races, Al Shabab Storm has managed only one win and two third-place finishes; the other three runs produced fifth and two twelfth-place efforts. That is a brutal downturn for a horse that was winning top-class races less than two years ago. When racing in Class 1 company — the highest level — the record reads 1 win from 7 races, which means the horse is outclassed more often than not at that standard. Regular jockey Marco Ghiani, who rode the horse five times, never got a win out of it, suggesting either the partnership does not work or the horse needs different tactics.
What makes Al Shabab Storm worth watching is the Chester form. Winning two top-class races at the same track in a month showed real ability and consistency on a surface or distance it clearly loves. If the yard can get the horse back to that level of performance — and Appleby has sent out 71 winners this season, so he knows how to train winners — there is a class horse buried in here somewhere. Right now, though, it looks like one struggling to rediscover form.
⚡ Strengths & Risks
What the data says works for and against this horse
✓ What works in their favour
✔ Excellent record on soft ground: 1 wins from 3 starts (33%)
⚠ What to watch out for
⚠ Poor record on standard ground: 0 wins from 4 starts
🎯 Where This Horse Thrives
Performance broken down by ground, distance, class, and track type
🌧 Ground Conditions
Good to soft (some give)
Likes
Standard to slow (all-weather)
Unknown
Good to firm (drying out)
Unknown
Standard (all-weather)
Avoids
🏅 Competition Level
Class 3 (mid-level)
Unknown
🏟 Track Shape
Right-handed, hilly
Loves
Left-handed, long straights
Ok
Right-handed, long straights
Unknown
Right-handed, tight turns
Unknown
📅 Recent Runs
The last 10 races, most recent first
30 Aug
5th
Beverley
5f – 6½f · Heavy · 11 runners
26 Jun
🏆 Won
Newcastle
5f – 6½f · Standard_To_Slow · 14 runners
31 May
12th
Thirsk
5f – 6½f · Good · 14 runners
6 May
12th
Chester
7f – 1m · Good · 14 runners
1 Oct
3rd
Kempton Park
5f – 6½f · Standard_To_Slow · 7 runners
20 Sep
4th
Chester
7f – 1m · Soft · 9 runners
30 Aug
8th
Chester
7f – 1m · Good_To_Firm · 14 runners
21 Aug
12th
Newcastle
7f – 1m · Standard · 14 runners
31 Jul
3rd
Wolverhampton
5f – 6½f · Standard · 13 runners
28 Jun
DNF
Newcastle
5f – 6½f · Standard · 10 runners
🏇 Jockey Partnerships
Every jockey who has ridden this horse, sorted by rides together
🏟 Track Record
Win rate at each course this horse has visited
| Course | Races | Results | Last visited | Win rate |
|---|
| Chester Tight |
7 |
2 wins, 2 seconds, 3 other |
6 May |
28.6% |
| Newcastle Galloping |
3 |
1 win, 2 other |
26 Jun |
33.3% |
| Doncaster Galloping |
3 |
3 other |
29 Mar |
0% |
| Goodwood Undulating |
2 |
1 win, 1 second |
25 May |
50% |
| Wolverhampton Galloping |
2 |
2 thirds |
31 Jul |
0% |
| Newbury Galloping |
1 |
1 other |
19 Apr |
0% |
| Leicester Sharp |
1 |
1 third |
12 Sep |
0% |
| Newmarket Galloping |
1 |
1 second |
29 Sep |
0% |
| Thirsk Galloping |
1 |
1 other |
31 May |
0% |
| Beverley Undulating |
1 |
1 other |
30 Aug |
0% |
| Kempton Park Galloping |
1 |
1 third |
1 Oct |
0% |