Ikigai Star

The most striking thing about Ikigai Star is its record at Huntingdon. In three races at that track, it has won twice, which is an exceptional win rate that any trainer would love to replicate elsewhere. The most recent of those victories came on 20 May 2025, and while that is now 15 months old, it shows the horse can still deliver at the place where it runs best. The horse also performs noticeably better over the middle distances of 1 mile 6 furlongs to 2 miles, where it has won 2 of 10 races (20%), compared to its overall average. Put Ikigai Star on normal ground conditions and at Huntingdon in that distance range, and the stats suggest something close to genuine form.

Charlie Longsdon's yard at Chipping Norton has been busy this season with 31 winners already, so the stable is in decent health. Lilly Pinchin, who rides the horse most often, has partnered it twice to victory from 11 races (18%)—above the horse's overall average—which hints at a useful working relationship. The problem is the recent form. Ikigai Star has not won in its last six races and returned to the track just a day ago with a fifth-place finish. At the Class 4 level, where it has won 25% of its races (2 from 8), there is still an opening for another victory, but the horse will need conditions to align: the right track, the right distance, the right ground, and a return of the spark that last showed up over a year ago.