Ayiko

The wet ground angle is just as striking. On soft or muddy surfaces, Ayiko has won 2 of 6 races — that is 33%, or roughly 1 in every 3 attempts. Compare that to the overall career record of 2 wins from 14 races (14%, or about 1 in 7), and the picture becomes clear: when the rain comes and the ground gets heavy, this horse becomes a different proposition. Trainers and punters who follow Ayiko closely will have one eye permanently on the weather forecast.

Trained by S R B Crawford out of Larne in Co Antrim — a yard that has already sent out 12 winners this season — Ayiko is typically partnered by J J Slevin, who has ridden the horse to 1 win from their 6 races together. That is a 17% win rate between them, which is actually a shade better than Ayiko's career average, suggesting the partnership works reasonably well. The first career win came at Ayr in December 2023, and the most recent followed at the same track in January 2025, which means the horse has now gone 14 months and six races without adding to that tally.

That winless run is worth putting in context. The recent form figures — a third, two blanks, then a second and a fourth and a fifth in the last three outings — show a horse that is competitive and placing regularly without quite getting over the line. It is also worth noting that when tried at Class 3 level, one step up from where it has found most success, Ayiko has gone 0 from 3. That suggests the horse is operating right at its ceiling when the races get harder, and the wins have come when the conditions align perfectly: Ayr, wet ground, the right class. Having raced just 12 days ago, Ayiko is clearly fit and active — and if Crawford targets another Ayr fixture on a rainy afternoon, the formula is there.