King of Fury

The most striking fact about King of Fury is his dominance at Southwell, where he has won 3 of his 6 races at that track—a 50% win rate that stands in sharp contrast to his miserly 14% win rate (2 wins from 14) when stepped up to Class 4 races elsewhere. He was last successful at Southwell just eight weeks ago, on 27 July, which suggests he remains capable of winning. Ground conditions matter to him as well: he has won 3 of 8 races on normal ground at a 38% win rate, and 2 of 8 on soft or muddy ground at 25%, making him a horse who prefers the softer end of the spectrum. He struggles on fast, dry ground, where he has yet to record a victory.

Recent form offers hints of life in the old horse yet. His last six races show a pair of wins sandwiched among some indifferent placings—a first place, another win seven races back, and a handful of minor finishes—which suggests he is capable of stringing winning efforts together when the conditions and the track align. Sean Kirrane, his most frequent partner in the saddle, has ridden him to one win from six races, a modest return that reflects King of Fury's overall inconsistency. Michael Dods' yard has been in fine form this season with 43 winners, and King of Fury remains active, having raced just a day ago. At six years old, he is hardly in his prime, but a horse that dominates one track and thrives on soft ground is always worth watching when conditions suit.