Epidavros

Both of her victories came in a tight two-week window in autumn 2024 — first at Carlisle in September, then at Hamilton Park later that same month. That double suggests she hit a purple patch when conditions suited her, and trainer Katie Scott knows exactly what those conditions look like. Scott, who runs her yard out of Galashiels in the Scottish Borders and has already sent out 17 winners this season, has been refreshingly candid about what this horse needs: rain. Scott points to a second place in a notable fillies' race at Musselburgh and another runner-up finish in a Sunday Series race at Hamilton as evidence that Epidavros has been doing her job even without winning, but she believes the real fireworks come when the ground turns wet and soft underfoot — and she wouldn't be surprised to see the horse winning races once September and October arrive and the weather changes.

Her most productive partnership is with jockey P J McDonald, who has ridden her in 8 races and won twice — a win rate of 25%, or 1 in every 4 races together. That is a significantly better return than her overall record suggests, which tells you something about the importance of having the right rider in the saddle. She typically runs at Class 5 level, which sits at the lower end of the racing ladder, and has won 2 of her 11 races at that level — roughly 1 in every 5 and a half attempts. Her last win came 19 months ago, and she hasn't won in her most recent 6 races, with recent finishes of 5th, 6th, 3rd, 5th, 4th, and 4th. Solid without threatening. But with soft ground on the horizon and a trainer who clearly believes there is more to come, Epidavros looks like a horse worth keeping an eye on as the season turns.