Favour And Fortune

The partnership with jockey Tom Cannon has been central to that success. In 13 races together they have won 5 times — that's a win rate of 38%, or just under 2 in every 5 rides. That kind of chemistry between horse and rider matters, and it's no coincidence that Cannon has been in the saddle for every one of Favour And Fortune's wins.

The honest part of the story is that he hasn't won in his last 6 races, and his most recent victory is now 24 months old. His form figures across those six runs — a mix of thirds, fourths, and a twelfth — suggest a horse who is running creditably without finding the winning thread again. His trainer Alan King has been candid about why: a stable accident left the horse with a hock injury, which disrupted plans for much of a season. King had pencilled him in for a major target all summer before the setback forced a rethink, and he was clear that rushing him back would be a mistake.

What gives the story a forward-looking feel is what King and Cannon have both said about conditions. They believe this horse has been running on wet and muddy ground when his best is on fast, dry ground — and that his movement is simply too smooth and flowing to be shown off in the mud. The Scottish Champion Hurdle win came on exactly the kind of ground they want for him, and the difference was apparently stark. Cannon described his jumping that day as transformed.

King's yard has sent out 58 winners this season, so this is a stable in form. Favour And Fortune has raced just once in the last day, so he is clearly still in training and being campaigned actively. The talent is not in question — it's there in the record, and his trainer has never stopped believing in it.