Melvin Udall
Melvin Udall is a 4-year-old with a clear preference for soft ground and a knack for finding the winner's circle when conditions suit. The horse has won twice and placed four times from nine races, a record that sits just above the ordinary but with a telling pattern underneath. What makes Melvin interesting is not the raw numbers — 2 wins from 9 is modest — but where those wins have come. On slightly soft ground, Melvin boasts a 50% win rate, taking victories in half its outings on that surface. That is the kind of speciality that keeps a horse's career ticking over and gives its the yard a clear blueprint for where to run it.Based on TrackLab's analysis
Owner
K Mills J Brown S Barley
📊 Key numbers
Career totals for this horse
🔍 Full analysis
Our model's view, based on this horse's career and recent runs
Both victories came at tracks with real pedigree. The first arrived at Redcar back in September 2025, a breakthrough moment for any horse. Five months later, in March this year, Melvin won again at Doncaster, one of Britain's most important racing centres. That win is now five months in the past, but the horse remains active and competitive. Recent form has been frustrating — just one place finish in the last six runs — though a third-place finish three races ago suggests capability is still there. Trainer Grace Harris, based at Shirenewton in Gwent, has built a strong season with 31 winners, and Melvin remains part of that working yard, recent runs or not. The horse raced as recently as a day ago, signalling that patience may still be rewarded. For a horse with this ground preference and track record, a return to soft conditions and suitable competition could spark another purple patch.
⚡ Strengths and risks
What helps this horse and what to watch out for
✓ What works in their favour
✔ Excellent record on good_to_soft ground: 2 wins from 5 starts (40%)
🎯 Where this horse runs best
Results split by ground, distance, race level and track shape
🌧 Ground
Good to soft (some give)
Loves
Good to firm (fairly firm)
Unknown
Good (a little give)
Unknown
Standard to slow (all-weather)
Unknown
🏅 Race level
Class 4 (standard)
Unknown
Class 5 (entry-level)
Unknown
🏟 Track shape
Left-handed, long straights
Likes
Right-handed, long straights
Unknown
Right-handed, hilly
Unknown
📅 Recent runs
The last 10 races, most recent first
9 Oct
16th
York
7f – 1m · Good_To_Soft · 22 runners
6 Sep
3rd
York
7f – 1m · Good_To_Soft · 19 runners
2 Jul
12th
Newbury
7f – 1m · Good_To_Firm · 15 runners
20 May
7th
Kempton Park
7f – 1m · Standard_To_Slow · 14 runners
18 Apr
9th
Thirsk
7f – 1m · Good · 13 runners
29 Mar
🏆 Won
Doncaster
7f – 1m · Good_To_Soft · 15 runners
21 Oct
4th
Great Yarmouth
7f – 1m · Good_To_Soft · 15 runners
24 Sep
🏆 Won
Redcar
7f – 1m · Good_To_Soft · 7 runners
30 Aug
2nd
Beverley
7f – 1m · Good_To_Firm · 4 runners
4 Jun
4th
The Curragh
5f – 6½f · Good · 19 runners
🏇 Jockeys
Every jockey who has ridden this horse, most rides first
🏟 Course record
Win rate at each course this horse has visited
| Course | Races | Results | Last run | Win rate |
|---|
| York Galloping |
2 |
1 third, 1 other |
9 Oct |
0% |
| Doncaster Galloping |
1 |
1 win |
29 Mar |
100% |
| Redcar Galloping |
1 |
1 win |
24 Sep |
100% |
| Great Yarmouth Galloping |
1 |
1 other |
21 Oct |
0% |
| Newbury Galloping |
1 |
1 other |
2 Jul |
0% |
| Beverley Undulating |
1 |
1 second |
30 Aug |
0% |
| The Curragh Galloping |
1 |
1 other |
4 Jun |
0% |
| Kempton Park Galloping |
1 |
1 other |
20 May |
0% |
| Thirsk Galloping |
1 |
1 other |
18 Apr |
0% |