Court In A Storm

His career got going at Ludlow in October 2024, and Kim Bailey and Mat Nicholls — the Cheltenham-based yard that has sent out 31 winners already this season — clearly had him pegged as a horse worth building slowly. Bailey said as much in a stable tour last November, noting he'd won his first race, schooled well over hurdles, and was the sort to pay his way later in the season. That's trainer-speak for a horse they believe in without wanting to push too hard too soon, and the record since has backed that judgement up.

His most recent win came at Uttoxeter in October 2025, about eight months ago now, and his form since has been mixed — a second, a fourth, and a seventh among his last few runs. That kind of dip after a win is not unusual; horses can find the competition stiffer once they've proven themselves, and the Uttoxeter victory may simply have moved him into slightly tougher company. Notably, he raced just one day ago, so whatever that latest run showed, the yard clearly has him fit and in a routine.

What makes Court In A Storm worth watching is that combination of a solid win rate and a trainer who knows exactly what kind of horse he has — not a superstar, but a reliable performer at his level who wins more often than not when the conditions suit. At seven, he is entering what should be the prime years of a jumper's career, and with 31 winners already on the board for Bailey and Nicholls this season, this is a yard in form. A horse who wins 1 in every 3 races overall, and 3 in every 5 at his preferred class, is exactly the kind of quiet accumulator that keeps a yard ticking.