The recent run of form tells a compelling story on its own: 4th, 5th, 1st, 1st, 2nd, 2nd in the last six races, reading from oldest to most recent. That's a horse that started a little flat, found its feet, hit back-to-back wins, and has been knocking on the door ever since. The first career win came at Wolverhampton in March 2025, and the most recent at Southwell in late March 2026 — so this is a horse that knows how to win, and knows how to win at the all-weather tracks that dominate the winter and spring calendar.
Where Ancient State really stands out is at Class 6 level — the entry-level tier of British racing — where it has won 2 of its 5 races there, a remarkable 40% win rate, or roughly 2 in every 5 races. That's not just good, that's dominant for the grade. It suggests a horse that, when dropped into the right company, has genuine class to spare.
Adam Kirby's yard at Kirtling, near Newmarket, has sent out six winners already this season, and Ancient State accounts for a meaningful slice of that tally. Kirby's operation isn't one of the sprawling Newmarket powerhouses, which makes a horse like this all the more valuable to the team — a reliable, professional performer who keeps turning up and delivering.
Having raced as recently as yesterday, Ancient State is clearly fit, active, and in the middle of a productive spell. With two wins from the last six races and consecutive placed efforts since, the question now is whether the team aim slightly higher in class, or stick to the formula that has been working so well. Given how comfortably this horse has handled the level so far, the answer might just take care of itself.
| Course | Races | Results | Last visited | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lingfield Park Sharp |
4 | 1 win, 1 second, 2 other | 28 Apr | 25% |
| Southwell Galloping |
3 | 1 win, 1 third, 1 other | 28 Mar | 33.3% |
| Wolverhampton Galloping |
3 | 1 win, 1 second, 1 other | 29 May | 33.3% |
| chelmsford | 1 | 1 other | 13 Feb | 0% |