Enqarde

The career high point came at Haydock Park in December 2021, when Enqarde won a Class 2 race — one of the better races in Britain — on what was presumably a suitably soggy winter's day. It was also the first career win, which makes it all the more memorable: stepping up to a big occasion and delivering first time out at that level. Since then, Enqarde has competed regularly at Class 2 level, winning 1 from 6 at that grade, which is honest rather than spectacular, but speaks to a horse that has been campaigned ambitiously throughout its career.

What makes recent form genuinely exciting is that Enqarde has not slowed down with age. The last six runs show a blank, then a blank, then a win, then two consecutive wins, which is a purple patch any trainer would be delighted with at any age, let alone in a 12-year-old. The most recent of those wins came at Leicester just six weeks ago, confirming this horse is very much still at the races in every sense. Jockey Charlie Hammond has been the regular partner, riding Enqarde in 11 of its 16 races and winning 2 of them — roughly 1 in every 5 rides together, a consistent partnership that clearly works.

Trained by Mrs David Plunkett out of Banbury in Oxfordshire, the yard has had 1 winner this season, making Enqarde very much the yard's standard-bearer right now. The horse raced just one day ago, so is very much active and clearly in form. Keep an eye on the forecast — because when the ground gets wet, Enqarde becomes a very different proposition.