Fortunate Star

The recent form is where things get genuinely interesting. In the last six races, Fortunate Star has finished second, first, first, fifth, fourth, and eleventh — so after a rough patch in the middle, it has come back sharp. That win at Newcastle in March 2026 was the most recent, and the horse is still active, racing just three weeks ago. This is not a horse winding down; it is a horse in form.

The numbers start to tell a clearer story when you dig into where and how Fortunate Star performs best. On normal ground, it wins almost 1 in every 3 races — 4 wins from 14 — which is a dramatically better record than its overall figures suggest. The same is true over sprint distances, the very shortest races under five furlongs, where it has won 3 of 9, again around 1 in 3. Short, sharp, and on decent ground: that is the sweet spot.

Then there is Southwell, where Fortunate Star has built something close to a home advantage. Three wins from 10 races at that track is a remarkable record for a horse at this level — and it speaks to the kind of course knowledge and confidence that separates a horse who simply runs there from one who genuinely thrives there. Trainer Stephen Hanlon, based at Constable Burton in North Yorkshire, has sent out 3 winners this season, and this horse accounts for a significant part of the yard's recent success.

Regular jockey Zak Wheatley has been in the saddle for 24 of their races together, winning 2 of them — roughly 1 in 12 — which is a more modest return than the horse's overall record. Whether that changes as their partnership develops is one of the interesting threads to follow.