Hold Your Fort
Hold Your Fort is a 10-year-old with the kind of record that speaks to steady, reliable ability rather than flash. Eight wins from 31 races—a 26% win rate—top-3 finishes him in that sweet spot of a horse who knows how to win without being a star, and at his age, that consistency is worth noting. What makes him genuinely interesting is how he dominates one particular track. At Newton Abbot, he is almost a different horse: five wins from just eight races means he has won roughly 5 in every 8 times he runs there. That is the kind of record that makes a trainer smile every time the fixture comes around.Based on TrackLab's analysis
📊 Key numbers
Career totals for this horse
🔍 Full analysis
Our model's view, based on this horse's career and recent runs
His partnership with jockey James Best adds another layer. Together they have won five times from 14 races, a 36% win rate that is significantly better than Hold Your Fort's overall figures. When Best is in the saddle, this horse performs above his usual level, which suggests there is a real understanding between them. Debra Hamer's yard at Nantycaws has not sent out many winners this season—just three so far—which means every victory matters, and Hold Your Fort accounts for a meaningful chunk of her winners.
Recent form shows he is still genuinely competitive. Two races ago he finished second, and before that he was in the top 3 three times in six runs, including another second place most recently. His last win came at Uttoxeter on 26 July, three months ago now, so he is not in a dry spell by any stretch. At Class 3 level he has won three times from nine races, a 33% win rate that shows he belongs at that grade. He raced just a day ago, which means Hold Your Fort remains a working horse, still active and still chasing winners in his veteran years.
⚡ Strengths and risks
What helps this horse and what to watch out for
✓ What works in their favour
✔ Course specialist at Newton Abbot: 5 wins from 8 starts (62%)
✔ Effective partnership with James Best: 36% win rate together
⚠ What to watch out for
⚠ Poor record on soft ground: 0 wins from 3 starts
⚠ Yet to win at Worcester in 5 attempts
⚠ Struggles on LH Galloping tracks: 0 wins from 12 starts
🎯 Where this horse runs best
Results split by ground, distance, race level and track shape
🌧 Ground
Good (a little give)
Likes
Good to firm (fairly firm)
Likes
Good to soft (some give)
Ok
📏 Race distance
Long Distance (2M+)
Likes
🏅 Race level
Class 2 (high-level)
Unknown
Class 3 (mid-level)
Likes
Class 4 (standard)
Avoids
Class 5 (entry-level)
Loves
🏟 Track shape
Left-handed, tight turns
Loves
Right-handed, long straights
Unknown
Left-handed, tight
Unknown
Left-handed, long straights
Avoids
📅 Recent runs
The last 10 races, most recent first
14 Oct
2nd
Ffos Las
Long Distance (2m+) · Soft · 10 runners
26 Jul
🏆 Won
Uttoxeter
Long Distance (2m+) · Good · 9 runners
10 Jul
5th
Worcester
Long Distance (2m+) · Good · 11 runners
28 Jun
9th
Uttoxeter
Long Distance (2m+) · Good · 14 runners
4 May
3rd
Fakenham
Long Distance (2m+) · Good · 7 runners
15 Apr
2nd
Haydock Park
Long Distance (2m+) · Good_To_Soft · 8 runners
29 Mar
🏆 Won
Ascot
Long Distance (2m+) · Good · 4 runners
9 Mar
DNF
Taunton
Long Distance (2m+) · Good
9 Mar
DNF
Taunton
Long Distance (2m+) · Good · 6 runners
12 Oct
4th
Chepstow
Long Distance (2m+) · Good_To_Firm · 10 runners
🏇 Jockeys
Every jockey who has ridden this horse, most rides first
🏟 Course record
Win rate at each course this horse has visited
| Course | Races | Results | Last run | Win rate |
|---|
| Newton Abbot Sharp |
8 |
5 wins, 1 second, 1 third, 1 other |
29 Sep |
62.5% |
| Worcester Galloping |
5 |
2 thirds, 3 other |
10 Jul |
0% |
| Uttoxeter Sharp |
3 |
1 win, 2 other |
26 Jul |
33.3% |
| Ffos Las Galloping |
3 |
1 second, 2 other |
14 Oct |
0% |
| Chepstow Galloping |
2 |
2 other |
12 Oct |
0% |
| Taunton Undulating |
2 |
2 other |
9 Mar |
0% |
| Ascot Galloping |
1 |
1 win |
29 Mar |
100% |
| Ludlow Undulating |
1 |
1 win |
8 Oct |
100% |
| Cheltenham Galloping |
1 |
1 other |
25 Oct |
0% |
| hereford |
1 |
1 third |
11 Oct |
0% |
| Exeter Undulating |
1 |
1 other |
6 Dec |
0% |
| Fakenham Tight |
1 |
1 third |
4 May |
0% |
| Wincanton Galloping |
1 |
1 second |
17 Oct |
0% |
| Haydock Park Galloping |
1 |
1 second |
15 Apr |
0% |