Gunfighter

The shape of Gunfighter's form tells an interesting story. In its last six races, it has won twice and finished third once, which means three top-3 finishes in six outings — genuine form. The recent Kempton victory came after a seventh-place finish, so this is not a horse in irresistible form, but it is clearly capable of turning up on the day when conditions suit. Those conditions, it turns out, are quite specific. Gunfighter absolutely thrives on normal ground, winning 3 of 8 races (a 38% win rate) compared to its overall average of one win in every five races. It also runs best over longer distances of around 1m1f to 1m2f, where it has won 2 of 6 races. Put Gunfighter on normal ground at a track it knows well, stretch it out to middle distance, and you have a horse worth watching.

At Class 4 level, Gunfighter wins just one in every seven races, which suggests it has found its level. It is unlikely to trouble top-class fields, but in the right race — one that ticks the ground and distance boxes, ideally at Kempton again — it remains capable. Having won for the first time at Newcastle in September 2023, it has taken two more years to establish itself as a regular winner. That is the journey of a horse that needed finding out, and one that John Butler appears to have finally figured out.