In This World

His first win came at Warwick in November 2021, and it was the kind of performance that makes people sit up. Trainer Dan Skelton — who has since handed the horse to Rob Summers — described him leaping straight to the front of the Triumph Hurdle market, showing serious speed for a four-year-old. The Triumph Hurdle is one of jumping's most prestigious prizes for young horses, and being mentioned in that conversation meant genuine excitement. Then came the injury: a cut that hit a vein, bleeding that wouldn't stop, a trip to the vet, a small infection, and a season wiped out before it had really begun.

That story had a second chapter. In June 2024, In This World won at Worcester on normal ground — the surface he clearly prefers, with both career wins coming from his 10 races in those conditions, a 20% win rate compared to nothing on anything softer or firmer. Speaking to Sky Sports Racing that day, Skelton called him a horse who "looked like being a really good horse over hurdles, but got a major injury" — past tense, importantly. "That's well in the past now," he said, "and he's winning races." It felt like a line being drawn.

Since that Worcester win, however, 23 months have passed without a victory. His last six runs have returned a string of fifth-place finishes and little else, and he is yet to win at Class 3 level — the grade he typically competes at — from seven attempts. His most familiar partner, jockey Harry Skelton, has won 2 of their 7 races together, which works out at around 1 in every 3.5 rides — a genuinely strong record between the two of them, even if recent results haven't reflected it. Rob Summers' yard has sent out just 2 winners this season, so this is not a powerhouse operation right now.

In This World raced just yesterday, which at least confirms he is sound and active. Whether the spark that lit up Warwick in 2021 can be rekindled is the real question hanging over him.