Copper And Five

The horse has a personality to go with his record. His trainer Ruth Carr, who operates out of a yard in Stillington, North Yorkshire, describes him affectionately as "a good old boy" — one who carries a bit of condition and, charmingly, cannot stand having his ears touched. Carr knows him well enough to spot opportunity where others might not, and she's pointed out that his official rating has dropped to 57, as low as it's ever been, which in racing terms means the handicapper has given him a real chance of winning. The yard has been in fine form this season, sending out 63 winners, so there's plenty of confidence around when Copper And Five does head back out.

His regular partner in the saddle is jockey Joanna Mason, and the two have built up a genuine partnership over 21 races together, producing 2 wins — roughly 1 in every 10 attempts, which is a solid return for a horse at this level. Mason has shown she understands him too. When he won at Beverley in May 2025, she adapted her tactics on the day — letting him race over a shorter trip than usual after noticing he'd been running too keenly in behind. Her saddle actually slipped on the way to the start and had to be re-fitted before the race, which would rattle most partnerships. Instead, they went out and battled to the line to win. That's the kind of small detail that tells you a lot about both horse and rider.

He hasn't raced for around six months now, which means this return will need watching carefully. Horses coming back from a break can take a run or two to find their best form, though Carr has a track record of placing this horse well when she believes the conditions suit. Given that she's already flagged him as well treated by the handicapper and worth following this season, it would be a mistake to write him off. Copper And Five has won races in most years of his career, and at ten years old, he's showing no signs of being done just yet.