Frankies Dream

The rise has been steep. Candlish's yard has sent out 60 winners this season, and Frankies Dream has been part of that momentum, climbing from a rating of 50 to 83 over the course of last year. To put that in plain terms: he started as a pretty ordinary horse and has raced his way into a completely different tier. He kicked things off with his first career win at Wolverhampton in January 2025 and added his most recent victory at York in May — a track that demands rather more of a horse than Wolverhampton does.

What makes him tick is fairly specific. He thrives on normal ground, winning 4 of his 10 races in those conditions — a 40% win rate that is hard to argue with. He also has a particular affinity for Newcastle, where he's won 2 of his 6 races there. His best work tends to come in fast-run races at shorter distances, where his naturally forward-going style becomes an asset rather than a problem. Jockey Joey Haynes, who has won 3 of their 6 rides together — exactly half — put it well after one of their wins: the horse needs to switch off mentally, and when he does, he finishes powerfully. When he doesn't, the talent gets wasted.

Candlish is candid about the challenge. He's not the most straightforward ride — it's partly in his head — but the plan for this year is to step him up in trip and take aim at mile races over the summer. That's an interesting gamble. His profile screams speed-and-pace, but his trainer clearly believes there's more to him if he can learn to settle. The recent form reads 11-7-8-1-5-2, which includes a win and a second alongside some disappointing efforts — classic signs of a horse still working out when to try. If the penny drops over a mile, he could be very good fun indeed.