What makes Joe interesting is that he clearly belongs in tough company. His trainer Robert Stephens, based near Caldicot in Monmouthshire, describes him as a genuine competitor in the big handicap hurdles. He has finished second in a Martin Pipe, one of the most prestigious races in the calendar, and third in a Greatwood. Those are not races for ordinary horses, and his willingness to fight in them shows he has the class. Yet he has won none of his 12 starts in the very top class races — a reminder that consistency and a bit of luck matter as much as ability.
Stephens has been thinking about switching Joe to chasing. He tried it once last season but was pulled up, which ended that experiment. Still, the trainer believes he has the temperament for it and may give it another shot. For now, Joe remains in those big handicap hurdles where he has already shown he can run well. At ten years old, with his recent win still fresh, he is a horse who continues to turn up and do his job. Whether he will ever win another race at this level remains to be seen, but he has proved he belongs in the conversation.
| Course | Races | Results | Last visited | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cheltenham Galloping |
6 | 1 second, 1 third, 4 other | 12 Dec | 0% |
| Newbury Galloping |
4 | 4 other | 29 Nov | 0% |
| Sandown Park Galloping |
2 | 1 win, 1 other | 25 Apr | 50% |
| Kempton Park Galloping |
2 | 1 win, 1 other | 5 Aug | 50% |
| Uttoxeter Sharp |
2 | 2 other | 24 May | 0% |
| Haydock Park Galloping |
2 | 2 other | 9 May | 0% |
| Ascot Galloping |
2 | 2 other | 14 Feb | 0% |
| Aintree Galloping |
2 | 2 other | 10 Apr | 0% |
| Doncaster Galloping |
1 | 1 other | 27 Jan | 0% |
| Huntingdon Galloping |
1 | 1 other | 23 Jan | 0% |
| Warwick Sharp |
1 | 1 other | 8 Feb | 0% |
| Windsor Sharp |
1 | 1 other | 16 Jan | 0% |
| Wetherby Galloping |
1 | 1 other | 27 Mar | 0% |