The real story is Ripon. Dogged has won twice at that Yorkshire track from only four races there — a 50 per cent win rate that stands in absolute contrast to its record everywhere else. The first victory came on 20 April 2023. The second, on 28 August that same year, remains the horse's last win: it is now more than three years without tasting success. Since then, Dogged has run 24 times without getting back to the front, though it has picked up eight places along the way. The drought is long, but the horse keeps racing.
Trainer Tony Carroll, based at Cropthorne in Worcestershire, oversees a yard that has sent out 136 winners this season — solid going — though Dogged has not contributed to that tally in a very long time. The horse does seem to have one preferred rider in Mr Philip Thomas, though their record together is modest: one win from six races. On normal ground conditions, Dogged manages a 12 per cent win rate (2 wins from 16 races), which is its best surface. When stepped up to Class 5 company — the higher tier — the horse has won nothing in nineteen attempts, suggesting it competes best in smaller fields.
Dogged was last out just a day ago and is actively racing. At this stage of its career, finding another win will be an achievement, but the horse continues to soldier on.
| Course | Races | Results | Last visited | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brighton Undulating |
6 | 1 second, 1 third, 4 other | 7 Aug | 0% |
| Beverley Undulating |
5 | 1 win, 4 other | 30 Jul | 20% |
| Pontefract Undulating |
5 | 2 seconds, 1 third, 2 other | 7 Aug | 0% |
| Ripon Sharp |
4 | 2 wins, 1 second, 1 other | 26 Aug | 50% |
| Haydock Park Galloping |
4 | 1 second, 3 other | 29 Sep | 0% |
| Nottingham Galloping |
3 | 1 win, 1 third, 1 other | 31 Jul | 33.3% |
| Newcastle Galloping |
3 | 3 other | 31 Mar | 0% |
| Chepstow Galloping |
2 | 1 second, 1 other | 16 Jun | 0% |
| Carlisle Undulating |
2 | 1 third, 1 other | 28 Jun | 0% |
| Redcar Galloping |
2 | 1 third, 1 other | 7 Oct | 0% |
| Leicester Sharp |
2 | 2 other | 28 Oct | 0% |
| Thirsk Galloping |
2 | 2 other | 12 Aug | 0% |
| Lingfield Park Sharp |
2 | 2 other | 25 Jul | 0% |
| Doncaster Galloping |
1 | 1 other | 7 Sep | 0% |
| Musselburgh Sharp |
1 | 1 third | 14 Oct | 0% |
| Wetherby Galloping |
1 | 1 third | 11 Jun | 0% |
| Bath Undulating |
1 | 1 other | 13 Jun | 0% |
| Kempton Park Galloping |
1 | 1 other | 18 Dec | 0% |
| Windsor Sharp |
1 | 1 other | 1 Jun | 0% |
| Hamilton Park Sharp |
1 | 1 third | 29 May | 0% |