Cawthorne Banker

The most striking thing about Cawthorne Banker is what happens when he goes to Uttoxeter. He has raced there just three times and won two of them — including this week, his most recent run. That is a 67% win rate at a single track, which is the sort of number that makes trainers plan their season around a venue. Something about that course clearly suits him, whether it is the shape of the track, the way it rides, or simply familiarity. Whatever the reason, Uttoxeter brings out the best in him.

He also has a reliable partner in the saddle. Jonjo O'Neill Jr has ridden him in 15 races and won 3 of them — a 20% win rate, or roughly 1 in every 5 rides together ending in victory. That is meaningfully better than his overall career average and suggests the combination has developed a real understanding. It helps that O'Neill Jr is based at the same yard — the Cheltenham operation run by his father Jonjo O'Neill Sr and A J O'Neill, a team that has sent out 51 winners already this season. That is a well-run, busy yard, and Cawthorne Banker is clearly one of its working parts.

His best distance is somewhere between a mile and six furlongs and two miles — the middle-distance staying range — where he has won 2 of his 9 races at 22%. His recent form reads 1-2-5 from his last three completed races, which is a horse in good order. He won this week, was placed the time before that, and shows no sign of slowing down. At eight, he is not getting any younger, but right now Cawthorne Banker looks like a horse that knows his job and is very much still doing it.