Flaming Rib

Back in the autumn of 2021, this horse was operating at the highest level. He won a Class 2 race at Chester in September, then followed it up just weeks later with a Class 1 victory at Doncaster in October — one of the top races in Britain. Chester, in particular, has been a happy hunting ground: two wins from six races there, a record that means he wins 1 in every 3 times he runs at that track. For context, the average racehorse would dream of those numbers at a single venue. His last win there came in May 2022, now over four years ago, which makes the nostalgia feel bittersweet.

The problem, according to McGuinness, is Hong Kong. A trip to run against Lucky Sweynesse — a high-class sprinter — ended with Flaming Rib finishing eight and a half lengths behind and, in the trainer's words, absolutely bottomed. Drained. The horse has not won in his last six races since, and his recent form — a mix of mid-pack finishes and one blank — suggests the old spark has been difficult to locate. McGuinness is candid about it: they are on a retrieval mission, trying to remind a horse of what he once was.

The statistics do offer a sliver of encouragement. On normal ground, he wins 20% of the time — 2 from 10 races, or 1 in every 5. Over his preferred trip of five to six and a half furlongs, he has won 3 from 18 races. The building blocks are still there. After a break, McGuinness reports a piece of work so impressive it stopped the yard in their tracks — Flaming Rib beating a higher-rated horse with something to spare. Whether that translates back onto a racecourse is the question. He is off what his trainer calls a potentially dangerous mark, meaning the official handicapper may have given him a chance. The fire just needs relighting.