Gwash

Trained by Fergal O'Brien at Withington in Gloucestershire, Gwash runs in the yard's colours at a time when the stable is in fine form, having sent out 90 winners this season. The horse typically lines up in Class 4 races, where it has won 1 of 10 attempts, suggesting that when the level drops slightly, it has a better chance. Its regular rider, Jonathan Burke, has found the winner's circle with Gwash once from eight outings together, a 12% win rate that hints at a slightly better understanding between horse and jockey than the overall figures suggest.

Recent form has been underwhelming. Gwash returned a fifth-place finish just a day ago and has not reached the front of the field since that April 2024 success at Warwick. Its last six races tell a discouraging story: fifth, third, seventh, second, third, fifth again. There have been some near-misses—two thirds and a second—but also some deeply disappointing runs. The horse remains active and in work, but the gap between its last victory and now is nearly 29 months, a long drought for any racehorse. At seven years old, time is not entirely on its side, and unless something changes materially, Gwash looks to be a horse that had its day and has been trying ever since to find it again.