The horse seems to have a distance sweet spot between five and six and a half furlongs—his win came over five furlongs, and he has performed best at that range with one victory from seven races at those lengths. Richard Hughes trains him from Upper Lambourn, a yard that has already sent out sixty winners this season, so he is in a stable with momentum. Finley Marsh rides him most often and has managed a win from five races together, a 20% win rate that stands out sharply against the horse's overall record.
His recent form is mixed. In his last six races he finished ninth, then second, then second again, fifth, first, and second—so a win sandwiched between some moderate efforts. When stepped up to Class 5 races, he has won none from four attempts, suggesting that tougher company does not suit him. Manly Fireball appears to be a horse who runs well enough to stay employed but has not yet shown he belongs anywhere near the top. At three, there is still time for improvement, but after four months without another win, he will need to put together a stronger sequence to prove his breakthrough race was the start of something rather than an isolated flash.
| Course | Races | Results | Last run | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wolverhampton Galloping |
4 | 1 win, 2 seconds, 1 other | 30 Jul | 25% |
| Kempton Park Galloping |
3 | 2 seconds, 1 other | 23 Sep | 0% |
| Lingfield Park Sharp |
2 | 1 third, 1 other | 28 Apr | 0% |
| Newbury Galloping |
1 | 1 other | 28 Aug | 0% |
| chelmsford | 1 | 1 third | 12 Feb | 0% |