Newmill Getaway

That single victory came at Worcester back in September 2023, which is now 34 months ago. Since then, Newmill Getaway has run six more times without winning, posting finishes of 2nd, 5th, 3rd, 2nd, 3rd, and 5th — a sequence that tells its own story. This is a horse that is almost always involved, always competitive, and almost never the one collecting the winner's prize. Frustrating to back, you might say, but hard to write off entirely.

Connor Brace rides it most often, partnering Newmill Getaway in 11 of its 17 races for that 1 win together — a win rate of about 1 in every 11 rides. That is not a blistering record, but it suggests a settled partnership built on familiarity rather than fireworks. The horse typically competes at Class 5, which is the bread-and-butter level of British racing — everyday competitive races rather than the big showcases — and has won 1 of its 10 races at that level, a 10% win rate.

Behind the scenes, Fergal O'Brien's yard at Withington in Gloucestershire is in excellent shape this season, having sent out 90 winners. A trainer operating at that volume clearly knows how to place horses to their best advantage. The fact that Newmill Getaway is still running — it raced just one day ago — suggests the team sees a race worth winning still out there for it. Whether it can finally turn one of those placed efforts into a victory 34 months on from its last win is the question its supporters are waiting on.