Beat The Edge

The two wins are separated by nearly two years, which says a lot about how hard-earned success has been. The first came at Wetherby in March 2023, and the second arrived on New Year's Day 2025 at Catterick Bridge — a nice way to start a year, though it now sits 15 months in the past. Since then, Beat The Edge has gone six races without winning, with a third place the best it has managed in recent runs. The horse is still racing, last seen just two weeks ago, so the yard clearly believe there is another day out there somewhere.

Where things get genuinely interesting is on wet or muddy ground. Beat The Edge has won 2 of its 15 races in those conditions — a win rate of 13%, compared to just 4% overall. That is more than three times better, and it is not a coincidence. On a soaking wet winter's day at a northern track, this horse becomes a different proposition. The step up in distance also helps: over 1 mile 6 furlongs to 2 miles, it has won 1 from just 4 attempts, a 25% win rate that stands well above anything it achieves at shorter trips. Combine soft ground with a staying trip and the form figures suddenly look much healthier.

Jockey Jamie Hamilton has partnered the horse 12 times, winning once together — roughly 1 in every 12 rides. That is a modest record, but Hamilton is a natural fit for a northern-based yard and keeps the partnership ticking over. Trainer Micky Hammond, operating out of Middleham in North Yorkshire, has sent out 25 winners this season, so the yard is in decent form. Whether Beat The Edge can add to that tally depends, as it almost always does with this horse, on what the weather does next.