Hunters Spring

That single victory came at Newcastle in November 2024, and it remains the highlight of the career so far. It was not built upon. The six races since have produced a second place, two fourth places, and three blanks — the kind of form that suggests a horse who is running consistently without quite finding the right moment to win again. Eighteen months is a long gap between victories, and it is worth noting that at Class 4 level — the bread-and-butter tier of everyday racing, a step below the big occasions — Hunters Spring has gone 0 from 4. That is the level where this horse has been asked to do most of its work, and it has not delivered there yet.

What keeps things interesting is the yard. Lucinda Russell and Michael Scudamore, training out of Milnathort in Perth and Kinross, have sent out 49 winners already this season — that is a yard in good form, with horses running well. When a team is operating like that, even a horse yet to recapture its best has the backing of serious professionals who know how to place them to best effect. The fact that Hunters Spring raced just yesterday and is clearly in active work suggests the team still believes there is a race to be won.

Whether that Newcastle victory was a one-off or the start of something still unwritten is the open question. A horse who has already shown they can win, trained by a yard in strong form, and still racing regularly at five — there are certainly worse positions to be in. The next run will be worth watching.