Kiss And Run

The real story here is what happens when conditions suit. On wet ground, Kiss And Run becomes a different proposition entirely, winning 2 of 6 races on the soft or muddy surface. That is a 33 per cent win rate in those conditions, nearly three times better than its overall record. Last week, it won at Goodwood in September, and that course has been a hunting ground: 2 wins from 12 races there shows a clear affinity for the track. The first win came back in October 2023 at Bath, and in the years since, Kiss And Run has become a reliable hand in Class 5 races, winning 3 of 14 — again, that 21 per cent return speaks to a horse that knows how to get the job done at its level.

What tips the balance in its favour is the partnership with Kieran O'Neill. The jockey has ridden Kiss And Run 14 times and won 3 races together, a 21 per cent win rate that is significantly better than the horse's overall average. O'Neill clearly understands how to get the best from this runner. Trained by Rachel Cook and John Bridger at their Liphook yard, Kiss And Run remains active and competitive — it raced just a day ago and came home sixth. That tells you this is a tough, game horse that keeps coming back for more. In a sport full of fragile animals and one-hit wonders, that durability counts for something.