Crimson Spirit

Richard Kingscote has ridden Crimson Spirit nine times and won four of those races — a 44% win rate that tells you everything about their partnership. Most recently, that combination won at Goodwood just this week, continuing a remarkable run at the Sussex course where Crimson Spirit has won twice from three attempts. The Kubler yard at Lambourn, which has sent out 34 winners this season alone, clearly knows how to get the best from him. The trainer describes him as a scopey, versatile horse with plenty more to come, and that assessment is backed by what happens on fast, dry ground. On such surfaces, Crimson Spirit wins almost two races in every three he runs — 4 wins from 6 — a signature that suggests ideal conditions bring out his best.

Recent form shows he has won twice in his last six races, including that Goodwood success, though he has also disappointed, finishing tenth at one point. That's normal for a horse still learning his trade at this level. What stands out is not just the results but the manner of them: his jockey has spoken of him handling pressure, finding gaps, and moving through the gears when it counts. The stable is confident enough to be pointing him at fresh targets through the summer. A horse that took this long to break through the tape can suddenly find his best form when everything clicks into place — and with Kingscote in the saddle and dry ground beneath his hooves, Crimson Spirit looks like exactly that kind of prospect.