Martin's Brig

The horse is trained by David Thompson out of Bolam in County Durham, a small yard that has already sent out 9 winners this season — a decent return that suggests Thompson knows how to place his horses well. Martin's Brig has been part of that operation since its first win at Carlisle back in August 2022, and the partnership with jockey Rhys Elliott has been one of the more productive relationships in the horse's career. Together they have won 3 races from 14 attempts — that is a win rate of 21%, or roughly 1 in every 5 rides. For context, the horse's overall win rate across its career is 11%, so Elliott clearly brings something out of it.

Two tracks stand out when you look at Martin's Brig's record. Southwell is the most striking: 2 wins from just 5 races there, which means it has won 40% of the time on that course. That is the kind of number that makes any racing fan sit up — most horses at this level are happy to win 1 race in 10. And on fast, dry ground, the horse has won 2 from 7, a 29% win rate that tells you conditions matter. When the sun has been out and the track is quick underfoot, Martin's Brig is a different proposition.

The recent form is less encouraging — finishing between fifth and ninth in each of the last six races, with the most recent run just yesterday. The last win came at Wetherby in April 2025, 13 months ago now. At nine years old, it would be easy to write off a horse in this kind of run, but Martin's Brig has been here before and found a way to win. A return to Southwell on a dry day, with Elliott in the saddle, would have any informed observer taking a second look at the racecard.