Hiconic

Her happiest hunting ground has been at Class 4 level — the bread-and-butter tier of jump racing, a step below the elite but a genuine test nonetheless. At that level she has won 3 of her 15 races, which is 1 in every 5, and that is the version of Hiconic that trainer Alex Hales, based at Edgcote in Oxfordshire, has learned to draw out. Hales has been in good form this season with 12 winners from his yard, and his quotes over the years paint a picture of a horse he has invested real time in — describing her as a revelation after claiming her as a young horse and doing extensive schooling work to bring out her jumping ability. She has spoken about her willingness to bowl along in front and her ability to stay on strongly, and those qualities have clearly defined how the team choose to place her.

The partnership with jockey Kielan Woods is worth noting. In 12 races together they have won twice — roughly 1 in every 6 — which is a meaningfully better return than her overall record suggests. When those two are in the same race, history says to pay attention.

The honest truth, though, is that Hiconic has not won since Uttoxeter in July 2024 — nearly two years ago now — and her last six runs have brought a blank, a couple of fourth-place finishes, and a second. She raced just one day ago, so she is clearly fit and active. At nine, with 28 races in the book, she is an experienced campaigner who knows her job. Whether another win is coming is the question her trainer will be trying to answer, but she has surprised people before.