Kings Merchant

The Chester win is worth dwelling on. Chester is one of the most unusual racecourses in Britain — tight, flat, and almost perfectly circular — and horses that handle it tend to be agile, quick-thinking types rather than raw gallopers. Winning there says something about Kings Merchant's adaptability, especially given that the horse also has a strong record at Thirsk, winning 2 of 6 races there. Two very different tracks, two genuine course records: that's not luck, that's a horse that travels well and thinks on its feet.

Dry ground brings out the best in Kings Merchant. On fast or firm ground, the record reads 3 wins from 9 races — that's 1 in every 3, which is a sharp improvement on the overall average. Trainer Philip Kirby, who operates out of East Appleton in North Yorkshire and has sent out 36 winners already this season, will know that when the sun has been out and the ground is riding quick, Kings Merchant becomes a very different proposition.

Much of that improvement has come with Callum Rodriguez in the saddle. The pair have built a genuine partnership over 13 races together, producing 4 of Kings Merchant's 5 career wins — a win rate of 31%, or just under 1 in every 3 rides. That is a striking number and suggests Rodriguez understands exactly how to place and pace this horse. The first career win came at Wolverhampton back in March 2024, and the journey since has been steady rather than spectacular. But with a win already banked this week and the yard in excellent form, Kings Merchant looks like a horse to keep close tabs on while the good weather holds.