Goblet of Fire

What makes this horse genuinely interesting is his expertise at specific distances and surfaces. Over 1 mile 3 furlongs to 1 mile 4 furlongs, Goblet of Fire becomes a different prospect entirely, winning three of five races at those lengths — a 60% win rate that marks him out as a horse who settles best when given room to run his race. He is equally at home on both normal ground and slow, wet conditions, winning half his races on each, suggesting he is the sort of uncomplicated animal who doesn't care what the track throws at him. Wolverhampton is clearly a place where he feels confident, having won two of three races there.

Trainer Nicky Henderson, who runs a powerhouse operation at Upper Lambourn that sent out 90 winners this season alone, views him warmly as a consistent performer. Henderson has noted that Goblet of Fire doesn't look the part as a potential hurdler, but he keeps delivering in competitive races at Class 4 level, where he wins more than half the time (5 from 9). The trainer also hinted at experimentation — a run on grass at Goodwood when switched back to the Flat over the summer, and a likely move to the all-weather circuit soon. James Bowen, his most frequent rider, has piloted him to three wins from ten outings together, a partnership that seems to click at the distances where the horse excels.