Glory And Honour

What makes him genuinely interesting is how well the team around him seems to understand what he needs. Trainer Sam England, based in Guiseley in West Yorkshire, has been candid about the journey to figure Glory And Honour out. Blinkers — a piece of headgear designed to sharpen a horse's focus — made a real difference when he won a chase at Hexham in June. His jockey Jonathan England noted after a win at Newcastle that he's a strong traveller who needs a race run at a proper gallop to show his best, because he doesn't always find as much as you'd expect in the closing stages. That's a very specific thing to know about a horse, and it shows the level of thought going into placing him.

The numbers tell a similar story. On wet or muddy ground he has won 3 from 11 races — about 1 in every 4 — and on normal conditions he has won 2 from just 5, which is an even better ratio. His preferred distance of a mile and six furlongs to two miles has brought him 4 wins from 14 races, around 1 in every 3 and a half. Wolverhampton is a track he has taken to particularly well, winning 2 of his 4 races there. These aren't coincidences — they're a blueprint. The yard knows exactly where to point him.

Sam England has sent out 49 winners this season alone, which speaks to a stable in fine form, and Glory And Honour has contributed to that tally as recently as a fortnight ago. He typically competes at Class 3 level, which is a step below the top tier but still a solid standard. With his first career win coming back in August 2022, he has now been delivering for the yard for four years and shows no signs of stopping. At ten, he's an old hand — and clearly still enjoying it.