Begin The Luck

The most intriguing number in his record is Stratford-on-Avon: 2 wins from just 5 races there. That is winning 2 in every 5 visits to the same track, which for a horse competing at this level is a genuinely striking return. Some horses simply suit a particular track — the turns, the distances, the shape of the place — and Stratford seems to bring out something extra in Begin The Luck. If you ever see his name in a Stratford racecard, take notice.

His partnership with jockey Mr Robbie David is worth paying attention to too. In 20 races together, they have won 4 times — that is 1 in every 5 rides, or a 20% win rate, which comfortably beats his overall career average of 15%, roughly 1 win in every 6 or 7 races. Clearly something clicks between horse and rider. They have had time to learn each other, and the results show it.

Recent form backs up the idea that Begin The Luck is in a good moment right now. He has won 2 of his last 6 races, including a win at Plumpton just five weeks ago, and his last six results — a win, then second, then first again — show a horse that is placing consistently and still finding the winning line. He raced just yesterday, which makes him one of the more active horses around at the moment. He typically competes at Class 5, the bread-and-butter level of British racing, and he has won 4 times from 27 races at that level. He is not a superstar, but he is a solid, durable competitor who keeps turning up, keeps placing, and still knows where the winning post is. At ten years old, that counts for a lot.