Hill O Rue

Trained by Kevin Ryan at his yard in Hambleton, North Yorkshire, Hill O Rue operates mainly at Class 6 level, which is the entry-level tier of British racing. At that grade, it has won 2 from 5 races — again, 40%. Ryan's yard has been in fine form this season, sending out 45 winners, so Hill O Rue is part of a well-run operation even if it is not one of the stable's headline acts. Its most regular jockey is Tom Eaves, who has ridden the horse to 1 win from 5 races together.

The 4-year-old picked up its first career win at Carlisle in late May 2025, then followed that up with a victory at Beverley on 23 September 2025. That Beverley win is the more recent benchmark, coming roughly 10 months ago. Since then, the form figures read 12-7-9 — three runs where it has not got close — suggesting it has gone through a difficult patch after that autumn success.

What makes Hill O Rue worth following is that it has already demonstrated it can win at this level under the right circumstances, and it raced just one day ago, meaning it is right in the middle of its campaign. The question now is whether the team can find a race that matches the conditions it clearly enjoys — a mile to a mile and two furlongs, lower-grade company, on a track where it can travel comfortably. When those boxes are ticked, this is a horse that wins 2 in every 5 races. That is a very different animal from the one its overall record might suggest.