Gold Clermont

The Fontwell Park record is the headline act here. Two wins from just 4 races at that track is a remarkable return — winning half of your visits to any course is the kind of consistency that any trainer would envy. For context, across the rest of its career Gold Clermont wins roughly 1 in every 7 races (15% overall), so Fontwell clearly suits this horse in a way that few other venues do. It is worth keeping an eye on the entries whenever Gold Clermont is declared there.

Wet and muddy conditions are another key ingredient. On soft or heavy ground, Gold Clermont has won 4 of 14 races — that is 29%, or roughly 1 in every 3 and a half races, which is almost double its overall win rate. When the rain comes down and the ground gets testing, this horse transforms. Many horses hate the mud; Gold Clermont actively thrives in it.

The yard behind the horse is Andy Irvine, based in Ashurstwood in East Sussex — not one of the big, headline-grabbing stables, but a team that has sent out 4 winners already this season. Jockey Philip Armson has built a strong partnership with Gold Clermont over 11 races together, winning 2 of them — an 18% win rate, or roughly 1 in 6, which comfortably beats the horse's career average. When Armson is in the saddle, the chances improve noticeably.

The recent form tells a mixed but encouraging story: a win, a third place, and a blank either side. That victory just a fortnight ago means Gold Clermont heads into its next race in form and with confidence. At ten years old, it is not reinventing itself — but it does not need to. It knows where it likes to run, it knows what ground suits it, and right now it is winning races. That is more than enough.