Griselda

Knight was effusive about this horse early on, describing her as tall, imposing, and the kind of animal that covers a lot of ground — the sort of physical presence that catches the eye on a gallop. That promise translated into a first win at Pontefract in July 2024, followed quickly by another at Thirsk the same month. Two wins in quick succession suggested something was clicking. Since then, however, Griselda has gone 23 months without adding to her tally, and her last six runs read 6-8-7-2-4-6 — only that second-place finish offering much encouragement.

The numbers do point to some clear conditions in which she is at her best. On fast, dry ground, she wins 2 from 6 races — a 33% rate, or roughly 1 in every 3 — which is a dramatically better return than her overall record suggests. At the shorter distances of five to six-and-a-half furlongs, she has claimed all three of her wins from 17 attempts, a 18% rate compared to nothing beyond that trip. And at the lower end of the racing ladder — Class 6 — she has won 3 of just 7 races, a 43% win rate that stands out sharply. The message is consistent: keep her on a quick surface, over a short distance, in less competitive company, and she becomes a very different proposition.

Jockey Callum Shepherd has ridden her most often, partnering her in 7 of her 26 races for 1 win together — around 1 in 7. That is not a bad record, and the partnership has enough miles on the clock to understand what this horse needs. With summer approaching and the ground likely to firm up, Griselda is the kind of horse where the conditions could do a lot of the heavy lifting. She raced just yesterday, so the team is clearly keeping her busy. If the right race comes up on the right ground, do not be too quick to write her off.