Ancient State

The most striking thing about Ancient State's record is what happens when it turns up at Lingfield Park. Two wins from five visits there, including a win just two weeks ago on 27 June 2026, makes it a course specialist in the truest sense — a horse that clearly loves the place. Whether it is the track's unique figure-of-eight layout or something in the surface that suits its stride, Lingfield brings out the best in this horse. Trainers and punters alike pay close attention when a horse keeps finding a way to win at the same venue.

The recent form reads 5-1-1-5-2-2, which tells an interesting story. Starting from the most recent, that winning run in late June was preceded by another victory before it, and while there are a couple of fifths in there, the cluster of placed finishes shows a horse that is competitive and consistent. Winning 2 of its last 6 races backs that up — this is not a horse scraping around at the bottom; it is one that competes hard and delivers when conditions suit.

Adam Kirby trains Ancient State from his yard at Kirtling, near Newmarket — one of the great centres of British racing — and the operation has sent out 6 winners already this season. Ancient State has been doing its share of the lifting. The horse typically competes at Class 6 level, which is the entry point of British flat racing, and has won 2 of its 5 races at that level — a 40% win rate, or two in every five, which is exceptional by any measure. For context, most horses at this level are happy to win once every six or seven attempts.

Ancient State raced just yesterday, so fitness is not a question mark. This is a horse in the thick of an active campaign, holding its form, and with a particular fondness for a track it has already conquered twice. If Lingfield Park comes up on the schedule again soon, pay attention.