Idem

The clearest pattern in Idem's record is his absolute dominance at Kelso, where he has won 3 of his last 4 races at that course. That kind of record — winning roughly three-quarters of the time at one track — is the mark of a horse that genuinely relishes a place. He also thrives on normal ground, where he wins about 4 in every 10 races, compared to a much shakier record elsewhere. His most recent victory came just this week at Perth on 24 September, a timely reminder that he can still deliver when conditions suit him.

The quirk, though, is real. Idem has managed just one win from seven attempts in the top-class races he has contested, suggesting he struggles when the bar is raised highest. His recent form tells a mixed story: a win, then a fifth place, a second, another fifth, and an eighth place before this week's victory. It is the form of a horse capable of pleasing one day and frustrating the next.

Patrick Wadge, his most frequent jockey, has ridden him to 4 wins from 17 races together — a 24 percent win rate that edges slightly ahead of Idem's overall record, suggesting the two understand each other reasonably well. Trained by Lucinda Russell and Michael Scudamore at Milnathort in Perth and Kinross, Idem sits in a yard that has sent out 49 winners this season alone. The trainer has acknowledged what makes him tick: Idem has ability and potential, yet his temperament remains unpredictable. There is even talk of schooling him over fences one day, though the trainer admits that Idem's mind may not cooperate. For now, he remains a useful hurdler on his day — especially at Kelso, where he appears almost unbeatable.