Kick Up A Storm

The good news is recent form before the break. Kick Up A Storm won twice in its last six races, including a victory at Exeter on 18 November 2024. That run suggests the horse was in decent shape when it stepped away. Exeter clearly suits it—the horse has won there before, on 19 April 2024, and the track appears to bring out its best. What really stands out, though, is how much Kick Up A Storm loves normal, standard ground conditions. On good ground, it has won three of seven races (a 43% win rate), which is significantly stronger than its overall record. If the yard can get it back racing on the kind of track conditions it thrives in, there is real potential here.

That said, the bigger picture is less encouraging. At Class 4 level—the mid-tier races where it competes most often—Kick Up A Storm has won just once from six races (17%). Ridden regularly by Harry Cobden, a top jockey, results have been mixed: one win from six rides together. The horse is not delivering at its normal level, and the long break will need to come off cleanly. Paul Nicholls, the trainer, has a strong yard sending out 95 winners this season, so the horse should return to the track in good order. But expectations should be measured. Kick Up A Storm is a useful mid-field racer on its day, especially when ground conditions suit, but it is not suddenly going to find an extra gear after ten months out.