I Still Have Faith

The early career arc is straightforward enough. I Still Have Faith broke its duck at Nottingham in July 2023, then went on to win at Wetherby in October of the same year. That Wetherby win is now 30 months ago, and the winless run since is the one question mark hanging over the profile right now. Recent form reads 2-6-2-8-10-2 — a lot of second places mixed in with some forgettable efforts — which tells you the horse is still competitive, still finishing close, but has not quite managed to get its nose in front when it matters.

What genuinely stands out is the record at Newmarket. Two wins from five races at the same track works out at 40%, which is a remarkable number — winning 2 in every 5 races at any course is the kind of consistency that makes punters look twice. Newmarket is also where trainer Stuart Williams is based, so the horse knows the track, knows the routine, and clearly thrives on it. Williams has sent out 69 winners this season from his Newmarket yard, so this is an active, confident operation.

The other reliable pointer is the ground. On normal conditions, I Still Have Faith has won 4 of its 14 races — just under 1 in every 3.5 outings — which is a genuinely strong record. Catch it on a dry, normal surface and it is a very different animal to the one that laboured home tenth a couple of runs back. It raced just yesterday, so it is firmly in the thick of a campaign, and the trainer clearly has it fit and ready. Get the right conditions at the right track, and there is every chance the name starts to feel prophetic again.