Hillview

The numbers tell an interesting story. Over 22 races, Hillview has won 5 and placed 10 times, which works out to roughly 1 win in every 4 or 5 races he runs — a respectable win rate for a horse competing mostly at top level. His best moment came at Uttoxeter in June 2022, when he won a Class 2 race, one of the top tier of British racing. That win came against tough opposition, carrying nine pounds more than the weights allowed for a horse of his perceived ability, and Sean Bowen, the jockey who has partnered him for five of his career wins, described him as a strong stayer who responds well to being ridden positively. With Bowen in the saddle, Hillview has won at a remarkable 36% rate — one win in every three rides — which speaks to a real understanding between horse and rider.

The challenge now is whether he can find his way back to that level. He has not won in his last six races, with recent efforts showing a mixture of unplaced runs and placings. His trainer has been cautious, noting that at Hillview's age there is genuine uncertainty about whether he will recover the form that made him competitive at the highest level. But the fact that he is running regularly and still chasing places suggests there is enough left in the tank to keep him in work.