High Dancer

Look at the last six races and the picture becomes clearer: a second, then a win, then a third, then a second, then an eleventh — and before that, another second. Reading that sequence from most recent backwards, High Dancer has been placed or won in five of its last six outings, with only one poor run interrupting an otherwise reliable run of form. That kind of consistency is what trainers and owners live for heading into the summer months.

Nicky Richards is one of the most respected names in northern jump racing, and his yard has been in seriously good nick this season — 39 winners already, which is a serious output for any stable. High Dancer fits the profile of a horse that a well-organised yard sends out knowing exactly what it can do. The first career win came at Haydock Park in March 2025, which is a proper racecourse with a decent standard of competition, and the most recent win at Hexham in June shows the horse is still progressing or at least holding its level well into its sixth year.

The most interesting number in the file is this: on normal ground, High Dancer wins 2 from 6 races — that is a 33% win rate, which in racing terms is exceptional. One in three races won when conditions suit is the kind of figure that would make any punter's ears prick up. Most horses at this level win closer to one in seven or eight. The ground is clearly a key factor, and when conditions are right, this horse delivers.

Brian Hughes, one of the north's leading jockeys, has ridden High Dancer six times and won once together — roughly 1 in 6 — which is a solid partnership rather than a sparkling one. But with a yard firing at this rate and a horse peaking at exactly the right time of year, High Dancer is worth following closely over the weeks ahead.