Boombawn

The highlights on that CV are serious. Two wins at Kempton Park, including a Class 1 in October 2022 and a Class 2 in March 2024, mark it out as a horse that shows up when the occasion demands. It also won a Class 2 at Aintree in May 2023 and a Class 1 at Wincanton in November 2024. Winning at Class 1 level — the very top tier of British racing — twice over is not something every horse manages in a career. Most who try at that level do so repeatedly without ever getting their nose in front. Boombawn has done it twice.

The partnership with Harry Skelton, Dan's brother, is worth noting. The pair have raced together 22 times and won 5 of them — a win rate of 23%, or nearly 1 in every 4 rides. That is a meaningful number at the level they compete at. Dan Skelton's yard is one of the most productive in the country right now, having sent out 187 winners already this season, so Boombawn is earning its place among serious company.

There are caveats, though. Boombawn has not won in its last 6 races, the most recent form figures reading 9-9-12-8-3-4 — nothing threatening. Its last victory came at Wincanton in November 2024, which is now 17 months ago. At Class 1 level, it wins roughly 1 in every 8 races (2 from 16), which reflects how tough that top tier consistently is. The horse is at its best over distances between a mile and six furlongs and two miles, winning half of its 4 races at that trip — a striking number. At Kempton specifically, it has won 2 from 5, which makes it a genuine course specialist at a track that suits its style. Whether a ninth-year-old horse can rediscover that winning thread is the question hanging over its next appearance.