Blazing Son

Newcastle is where Blazing Son truly comes alive. He's won 4 of his 13 races there — nearly 1 in 3 — a win rate that reveals a real affinity for the Northumberland track. His latest victory came there just this week on October 2nd, which suggests he's still capable of delivering even at an age when many horses have been retired. When he races in Class 5 — the lower tier where much of his work is done — he wins roughly 1 in every 5 races, a respectable return that reflects his value in the yard's rotation.

Andrew Breslin, his most frequent rider, has steered him to 3 wins from 15 races together, a 20 per cent win rate that's slightly above his overall mark and hints at a strong partnership. The jockey clearly suits the horse. Recent form has been patchy — a win last time out followed by a run of finishing eighth, tenth, third, fifth and eighth in his five starts before that — which is typical of an older horse holding his own in competitive races. For Smart's yard, which has sent out 18 winners this season, Blazing Son remains a genuine contributor when conditions and the race setup favour him, particularly anywhere near his home track.