Ip Up

Both of Ip Up's career wins have come over long distances — two miles or more — and that specialisation matters. In 14 races at that kind of trip, the horse has won 2, which is around 1 in every 7. Over shorter distances, that sharpness simply hasn't been there. The first win came at Fakenham in November 2023, and the second at Newcastle just over two months later in January 2024. Since then, 28 months have passed without a winner's enclosure, though recent form — finishing third, third, second, and fourth across the last several runs — suggests the horse remains competitive rather than fading.

Ip Up is trained by Jedd O'Keeffe, whose yard in Coverham, North Yorkshire has sent out 18 winners this season alone, which points to a team in decent form. The regular partnership with jockey Craig Nichol has produced both of the horse's wins from 16 races together — a win rate of 12%, or roughly 1 in every 8 rides. That's meaningfully better than the horse's overall average, suggesting the combination works. Most of Ip Up's racing has come in Class 4 company, a solid mid-tier level, and at that grade the record reads 2 wins from 12 races — about 1 in 6, which is the best conversion rate of any conditions the horse has faced.

Raced just yesterday and still active at eight, Ip Up is a durable, consistent performer who finds its best form when the race is long and the ground gives enough time to settle. A first win in over two years would be overdue — but the placings keep coming, and in racing, a horse that keeps finishing close is always just one good day away.