Manhattan Chute

The first came at Lingfield Park in January 2026, a full six months before the second. That kind of gap can sometimes signal a horse that is inconsistent or hard to place, and for a while the results backed that up — a run of finishes in eighth, ninth, and worse suggesting things were not clicking. Then, just this week, Manhattan Chute won at Leicester. Racing just one day ago, this horse is about as current as it gets.

What makes the Leicester win worth noting is the context. Manhattan Chute has raced four times at its typical level — Class 5, which is the entry-level tier of British racing — and had not won any of them before this week. That's 0 from 4 at that grade, until now. Breaking through at a level you have previously struggled at is exactly the kind of thing that can signal a horse beginning to fulfil its potential, and with those two wins now banked, the team at Lewes will be hoping the penny has finally dropped.

Jim and Suzi Best, who train Manhattan Chute from their yard in East Sussex, have sent out 13 winners already this season, so they clearly know how to get a horse ready to perform. Having a yard in decent form behind you matters — horses thrive on routine and good preparation, and a trainer sending out winners regularly tends to be one who has things running smoothly. For a horse like Manhattan Chute, that kind of support could be the difference between one lucky win and a genuine purple patch.