Hipop De Loire

Before that Galway win, he had already built a reputation as a serious flat stayer. He ran in the Ebor — one of the most prestigious long-distance flat races in Britain — not once but twice, and his trainer Nick Scholfield describes his first attempt there as "a helluva run." That kind of form at that level tells you this is a horse with real quality. Winning just 1 from 11 races (a 9% win rate) might look modest on paper, but when those races include top-level company, the context matters enormously.

The longer the trip, the more he seems to thrive. Over distances of two miles or more, he has won 1 from 7 races, a win rate of around 1 in 7 — not spectacular in isolation, but his placings and big-race performances suggest a horse who consistently shows up when it counts. In three outings at Class 2 level — some of the best races in Britain — he has yet to win, but simply being competitive at that standard puts him in a very small group.

Scholfield, who runs a yard in Lambourn that has sent out 19 winners this season, is clearly excited about what comes next. The plan is to take Hipop De Loire down the staying hurdles route — longer races over jumps — and given how naturally he jumped at Galway, that optimism feels well-founded. He raced just one day ago, so he is very much in the thick of things right now. The Ebor remains on the radar too, with the team hoping for a cleaner run and a bit more room to work with next time. A horse who can hold his own on the flat at that level and jump like he did at Galway is an interesting prospect by any measure.