Harry's Hill

Martin Hassett's Burnchurch yard has found something in this horse that works. Over five years, Harry's Hill has become a course specialist at Bellewstown, where he has won 2 of his last 3 races—that is a 67% win rate at one track, the kind of record that makes a trainer reach for his phone when entries open at that venue. He also shows a distinct liking for slightly soft ground, winning half his races when conditions turn damp. Those two details—course preference and ground preference—are the kinds of edges that matter in a competitive sport. His most recent win came at The Curragh on 16 August, just two months ago, showing he remains a capable performer in the here and now.

Wayne Hassett, his most regular rider, has partnered with Harry's Hill for 25 races and won 4 of them together, a 16% win rate that mirrors the horse's overall win rate. That kind of harmony between jockey and horse suggests the partnership understands what works. His recent form has been mixed—he finished eighth last time out just a day ago, but before that he was second and first in successive races, showing he still has races left to win at this stage of his career. Harry's Hill may never dominate a field, but he is the kind of horse that makes up a racing stable's backbone: honest, course-smart, and still capable of returning a winning day when conditions align.