The recent form figures tell an interesting story: that Leicester win was followed by a ninth, third, sixth, seventh, and eleventh in the runs since. In other words, the horse has been frustratingly inconsistent since its big moment, occasionally flashing ability — that third-place finish stands out — but more often than not finishing in the pack. Whether the break has helped reset things is the key question.
Over shorter distances — between 5 furlongs and 6 and a half furlongs — Express Train looks more at home, winning 1 from 5 races at that trip, a 20% win rate, or 1 in every 5. That is a meaningfully better record than its overall numbers suggest, and it hints that getting the trip right could unlock a better version of this horse. At Class 5 level, which is the level where most of its races have come, it has also won 1 from 5 at that distance — so it has shown it can compete and win at that grade when everything clicks.
The trainer is Andrew Balding, whose yard at Kingsclere in Hampshire has been in outstanding form this season — 204 winners is a serious number, making it one of the busiest and most successful operations in the country right now. A horse coming out of a stable firing on all cylinders is always worth a second look, even if Express Train itself hasn't always delivered on its potential. Sometimes a fresh horse from a yard in form is exactly the combination that produces a result.
| Course | Races | Results | Last visited | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leicester Sharp |
1 | 1 win | 5 Jul | 100% |
| Great Yarmouth Galloping |
1 | 1 other | 24 Jul | 0% |
| Doncaster Galloping |
1 | 1 other | 7 Jun | 0% |
| Lingfield Park Sharp |
1 | 1 third | 16 Feb | 0% |
| Kempton Park Galloping |
1 | 1 other | 10 Dec | 0% |
| chelmsford | 1 | 1 other | 2 Jan | 0% |
| Newcastle Galloping |
1 | 1 third | 16 Jan | 0% |
| Southwell Galloping |
1 | 1 other | 30 Jan | 0% |