What's striking is the pattern of recent form. Al Shabab Storm has been active right up to last week, but the last six runs tell a story of struggle: third, third, fifth, a win back in June 2026, then two twelfth-place finishes. That June victory at Newcastle was four months ago now. The horse is clearly being kept competitive and actively campaigned by trainer Michael Appleby's Oakham yard — which has been prolific this season with 71 winners — but something has shifted. Where the horse once peaked at Chester, it now seems to be racing out of its depth or hitting a period of poor form.
The recurring partnership with jockey Marco Ghiani hasn't yielded a win from five rides, which might explain why other riders get the call. Al Shabab Storm earns places regularly — 14 from 25 races — which shows it remains competitive and fit enough to be in the mix, but the wins have dried up. At the top level, the horse manages just 1 win from 7 Class 1 attempts, a 14 per cent win rate that underlines just how tough it is to win at that grade. For a horse that showed real promise 18 months ago, Al Shabab Storm is now in that difficult middle ground: too good for easier races, but not quite good enough to sustain success in the top tier.
| Course | Races | Results | Last run | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chester Tight |
7 | 2 wins, 2 seconds, 3 other | 6 May | 28.6% |
| Doncaster Galloping |
4 | 1 third, 3 other | 12 Sep | 0% |
| Newcastle Galloping |
3 | 1 win, 2 other | 26 Jun | 33.3% |
| Goodwood Undulating |
2 | 1 win, 1 second | 25 May | 50% |
| Wolverhampton Galloping |
2 | 2 thirds | 31 Jul | 0% |
| Thirsk Galloping |
1 | 1 other | 31 May | 0% |
| Newmarket Galloping |
1 | 1 second | 29 Sep | 0% |
| Beverley Undulating |
1 | 1 other | 30 Aug | 0% |
| Kempton Park Galloping |
1 | 1 third | 1 Oct | 0% |
| York Galloping |
1 | 1 third | 10 Oct | 0% |
| Leicester Sharp |
1 | 1 third | 12 Sep | 0% |
| Newbury Galloping |
1 | 1 other | 19 Apr | 0% |