Angel Hunter

The headline moment of the career so far came at York on 22 August 2024, where Angel Hunter won a top-level Class 2 race — one of the better races you can win in British racing. York is one of the most prestigious tracks in the country, often called the Ascot of the North, and winning there at that level is the sort of result that puts a horse on the map. Notably, that York race was also Angel Hunter's first ever win, which made it all the more striking. Rather than building up gradually through smaller contests, this horse announced itself at the top end straight away.

The partnership with jockey Sean Levey has been the most productive of the horse's career. The two have raced together seven times and won on two occasions — a win rate of roughly 1 in every 3.5 races, which matches Angel Hunter's overall career average almost exactly. That consistency suggests a genuine working relationship rather than a lucky combination.

Behind the horse is the Richard Hannon yard, based at Herridge in Wiltshire. Hannon's operation is one of the busiest and most successful in the country — 109 winners this season alone, which at the biggest yards is not unusual in volume but still represents a serious industrial output in a competitive sport. Angel Hunter fits the profile of a horse that a yard like Hannon's manages carefully across a season.

What stands out in the recent form is a dip — three poor runs in a row — followed by a sharp return to winning. Angel Hunter won just this week at Lingfield Park, and with 2 wins from 3 races on normal ground, the ground conditions clearly suit. The horse performs best when the ground is neither too wet nor too firm, and when those conditions align, Angel Hunter tends to deliver. With the career still very much in progress and the form turning upward again, this is a horse to keep an eye on.