Blue RC

Trainer James Tate, based at Newmarket, has overseen a notable transformation. When Blue RC was younger, he was genuinely immature — upset in the starting gates, withdrawn from races, and needing to be run in a hood over short distances around bends. Tate gradually lengthened his races and removed the hood as the horse grew up mentally and physically, a patient approach that paid off with a career-high win at Southwell on the all-weather on 1 January 2026. That victory, his most recent, came nine months ago and showed a horse relaxed enough to settle into a race and respond when asked. On normal ground — the kind of conditions most horses prefer — Blue RC has thrived, winning two of his five races there at a 40% win rate.

The last six races tell a mixed story. A second-place finish two runs back suggests he's competitive, but he hasn't won since January and his recent form reads: 4-10-10-2-9-2. The rating of 92 that came with his Southwell win represents a step up in class, and Tate noted at the time that he believed there was more to come from his horse. Whether Blue RC can find that next level remains to be seen, but a horse with his combination of top-class race victories, preference for normal ground, and demonstrated improvement across his career remains one worth watching.