Kitsune Power

His finest hour came at Beverley in August 2022, when he won a Class 2 race — one of the top tier events in British racing. That is a genuinely significant achievement for a horse who typically competes at Class 4 level, and it speaks to a real ceiling of ability that occasionally surfaces. Jockey Kevin Stott, riding him that day, noted that the race turned into a sprint finish despite steady early pace, not ideal for a horse like this, yet Kitsune Power still found plenty when asked. Stott added that he believed the horse could comfortably handle a longer trip in time — high praise given how the race unfolded.

Tim Easterby, who trains him at Great Habton in North Yorkshire, has been a consistent presence in the horse's career. Easterby's yard has sent out 126 winners this season alone, so this is a well-resourced operation that knows what it's doing. During a stable tour in April 2024, Easterby noted that Kitsune Power had come down in the weights and looked well handicapped, though he does need the ground to play ball — wet or muddy conditions are a problem, and he is much more effective on normal or fast, dry ground. On dry ground he wins roughly 1 in every 6 races, a noticeably better figure than his overall average.

The numbers also point clearly to a preferred distance. Over a mile and one furlong to a mile and two furlongs he has won 2 of his 10 races at those trips — 1 in every 5, which is a strong return and exactly the kind of stat that separates horses who are placed in the right race from those who aren't.

His last win came at Thirsk in June 2024, nearly two years ago now, and the six races since have produced finishes of fifth, sixth, third, third, fourth, and second. He's knocking on the door rather than walking through it — but he raced just one day ago, he's clearly fit and active, and the right combination of ground and trip could easily change that.