Glory Hyde

That Ripon record is worth dwelling on. Two wins from just four visits means Glory Hyde has won half its races there, which is a remarkable ratio for any horse. Most horses will win at a particular track once and you chalk it up to luck, but when the same horse keeps going back and keeps winning, something else is going on. Whether it is the shape of the course, the way the ground tends to ride, or simply the distances on offer, Ripon clearly suits this horse in a way that few tracks suit any horse.

The partnership with jockey Joanna Mason has been central to the story. In 11 races together they have won four times — that is a win rate of roughly one in every three rides, which is an outstanding return. Compare that to the career average of seven wins from 37 races overall, closer to one in every five, and you start to understand just how much the Mason connection has amplified what this horse can do.

Glory Hyde tends to compete at Class 5, which represents the bread-and-butter end of the sport rather than the glamour end, and has won three of 18 races at that level. That is not a flashy number, but the recent acceleration in form tells a different story — this horse appears to be in the best shape of its life right now. It also shows a liking for slightly softer, wetter ground, winning two of seven races in those conditions, which gives trainer Roger Fell something to work with when the autumn rains arrive.

Fell's yard at Nawton has sent out 25 winners already this season, so this is clearly a stable firing on all cylinders. Glory Hyde, raced just yesterday and still active, looks like one of the horses carrying that momentum forward.