Mr King

Trained by Geoffrey Harker out of Thirkleby in North Yorkshire, Mr King picked up his first win at Roscommon back in July 2023, and the yard has always felt there was a decent race in him. Harker described him as a horse who has been "a bit up and down" but who is "good at his grade" — which is an honest assessment from a trainer who knows his horse. The yard has sent out five winners already this season, so confidence is not in short supply at Thirkleby.

What makes the timing of things interesting is that Mr King won at Thirsk just this week — his most recent outing, as of yesterday. That matters because his last six runs had looked patchy on paper: a win, then a seventh, a sixth, a sixteenth, a missed run, and an eighth. That sequence, read in reverse, does not exactly build excitement. But horses can be contrary creatures, and Mr King seems to save his best for when it counts rather than building neatly towards it.

His record at Class 2 level — the upper tier of British racing — is a blank so far, 0 wins from 7 attempts, which suggests he finds life tough when the competition sharpens. But Harker has spoken about sending him back to Ayr for a mile race he finished third in last year, and a horse that has just won and whose trainer is targeting a specific race with genuine confidence is a horse worth keeping an eye on. Regular partner Colin Keane has yet to get the best out of him across six rides together, but that too could change if everything falls right.

Mr King will never be the flashiest name on the card, but a fresh win, a trainer with a plan, and a horse who has quietly placed 8 times from 28 races — earning his keep across the board — suggests there is at least one more good day still to come.