The wins have come at two very different tracks, which matters more than it might sound. The first came at Musselburgh in April, a tight, left-handed course on the outskirts of Edinburgh that rewards horses who travel well within a race. Then, five weeks ago, Hickory Lad went to Epsom Downs — one of the most unusual and demanding tracks in Britain, with its famous camber and sharp downhill run — and won there too. Winning at Epsom as a two-year-old tells you this is a horse with balance, adaptability, and a touch of class.
Behind the horse is trainer Phillip Makin, based at Easingwold in North Yorkshire. Makin's yard has sent out 9 winners already this season, and Hickory Lad is clearly one of the horses carrying that momentum forward. Makin has a reputation for getting young horses to run well early, and this horse looks like a product of exactly that patient, confident approach.
What makes Hickory Lad's story worth following right now is the trajectory. A debut win, a second win at a proper test of a track, and a race just yesterday — this horse is busy, fit, and in form. The recent sequence of 3-1-2-1-2 (reading from yesterday back to the start) shows a horse that dips just slightly between wins but keeps finding the podium. At two years old, with the whole summer still ahead, the question is not whether Hickory Lad can win again — it is where, and at what level.
| Course | Races | Results | Last visited | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Epsom Downs Undulating |
1 | 1 win | 5 Jun | 100% |
| Musselburgh Sharp |
1 | 1 win | 29 Apr | 100% |
| Newmarket Galloping |
1 | 1 third | 9 Jul | 0% |
| Thirsk Galloping |
1 | 1 second | 10 Apr | 0% |
| Chester Tight |
1 | 1 second | 6 May | 0% |