Court Drive

Kelleway trains out of Exning in Suffolk and has sent out two winners so far this season — a modest tally that makes Court Drive's contributions all the more valuable to the yard. The horse is part-owned by Premier Racing, a group with a strong record at Kelleway's stable: they have had five horses with her, and at least three of them have won. Court Drive is one of those, and clearly a favourite example of what happens when a trainer backs her own judgment.

At five years old, Court Drive has now raced 33 times, winning 4 and finishing in the places a further 12 times — so she has given her owners something to cheer in almost half her races, which is a decent return at her level. Most of her races have been at Class 5, which is the bread-and-butter end of the sport rather than the glamour end, and at that level she has won 2 from 18, roughly 1 in every 9. Not a machine, but a consistent, honest performer.

Her most recent win came at Great Yarmouth just five weeks ago, and she raced again only yesterday — so she is very much in the thick of things right now. Her last six runs read 4-3-1-6-6-5, which tells a pleasing story: after a couple of quieter efforts, she found form again and delivered that win. The regular jockey Luke Morris has yet to ride her to victory in five attempts together, so that partnership is still searching for its moment.

What makes Court Drive quietly compelling is the gap between what she cost and what she has given back. Kelleway bought her cheap, trusted her eye, and ended up with a winner at 50-1 on debut. Everything since has been a bonus — and at the moment, the bonuses keep coming.