Native Instinct

His most recent win came at Musselburgh just this week, which gives the whole profile a sense of momentum. That result follows a sequence that reads 1-6-2-6-5-11 going back through his last six races — patchy, certainly, but that second-place finish in the middle of the run shows he has been competitive when conditions have suited. His first career win came at Redcar back in October 2024, so it took him a while to get off the mark, but he has now won twice and is clearly a horse who can perform when things click.

One pattern worth noting is his record at shorter distances. Over five to six-and-a-half furlongs, he has won 1 from 3 races — a 33% win rate, or 1 in every 3. That is a sharp contrast to his record over other trips, and it suggests he is a horse who wants to get on with things rather than be asked to settle and grind. His trainer Edward Bethell, whose yard at Middleham has sent out an impressive 61 winners this season, has spoken about Native Instinct hitting the line well when dropped back to six furlongs at Pontefract, and hinted that slightly wetter, softer ground could bring out even more. Bethell is also weighing up whether to stick at six furlongs or try a sharp seven — a small step up that could suit a horse who is still filling out his game.

Callum Rodriguez has been the regular partner, riding him in 9 of his 13 races and winning once together — about 1 in every 9 rides. That win rate looks lean, but jockey-horse partnerships often take time to gel, and with the horse apparently improving, the combination could yet produce more. Native Instinct raced just yesterday, so the yard will be watching carefully to see how he comes out of it before plotting the next step. On current form, there is plenty to look forward to.