Hickory

The overall numbers need a little context to make sense. Hickory typically races at Class 3 level, and at that grade the record reads just 1 win from 13 races — roughly 1 in 13. That sounds modest, but it tells you something useful: Hickory is a horse that often runs against better competition than it beats, yet keeps showing up and placing. Thirteen places from 28 races means finishing in the top few almost half the time. This is not a horse that disappears into the pack.

Two tracks stand out. Kempton Park is where it all started, and Hickory has turned it into something of a home venue — 2 wins from just 5 races there, a win rate of 40%. That's the kind of record that makes trainers circle a track on the calendar. Ascot, meanwhile, is where Hickory has shown it can mix it with genuinely smart horses, having won there as recently as September 2025.

Conditions matter too. On wet or muddy ground, Hickory comes alive: 2 wins from 6 races, winning 1 in every 3, compared to a much thinner record on faster surfaces. When the forecast turns grey, this horse is worth paying attention to.

The partnership with jockey Saffie Osborne — daughter of trainer Jamie — adds a nice thread to the story. Together they've won 2 from 12 races, around 1 in 6, which is a solid record and speaks to the kind of familiarity that matters in racing. The yard itself is in excellent form, having sent out 47 winners this season. With Hickory having raced just yesterday and still clearly active at 8, there's every reason to think the story isn't finished yet.