No Ordinary Joe
No Ordinary Joe has the kind of record that tells a story of a hard-working horse who belongs in the conversation but rarely gets there first. The ten-year-old has won just twice in 31 races — a 1-in-16 win rate — but those two victories, at Kempton Park in December 2022 and Sandown Park in April 2026, suggest he has the ability to cross the line ahead when conditions align. The real puzzle is that he has not won in six months despite posting a series of respectable placed finishes: fifth, fourth, fourth, fourth, ninth, and sixth in his last six outings. He was back in action just a day ago, which means
Robert Stephens's yard, based in Caldicot in Monmouthshire, is still searching for that elusive third win.
Based on TrackLab's analysis
📊 Key numbers
Career totals for this horse
🔍 Full analysis
Our model's view, based on this horse's career and recent runs
What makes No Ordinary Joe genuinely interesting is his record in the biggest handicap hurdles. He has finished second in a Martin Pipe and third in a Greatwood — two of the most competitive and prestigious races on the calendar — which speaks to genuine class. For a horse with only two wins to his name, those performances stand out. The trainer has not ruled out a return to chasing after one outing over fences last season ended in a pull-up, suggesting that ground conditions or the step up in demands may have been against him rather than a fundamental unsuitability for the discipline. If Stephens finds the right chase, it could unlock something. For now, No Ordinary Joe remains a plodder in a yard that has sent out 11 winners this season — useful company, steady work, but not the kind of horse that wins you money. He remains in the hunt, though, and in racing that is often enough.
⚡ Strengths and risks
What helps this horse and what to watch out for
✓ What works in their favour
✔ Excellent record on soft ground: 1 wins from 10 starts (10%)
✔ Excellent record on good ground: 1 wins from 9 starts (11%)
⚠ What to watch out for
⚠ Poor record on good_to_soft ground: 0 wins from 9 starts
⚠ Yet to win at Cheltenham in 6 attempts
⚠ Struggles on LH Galloping tracks: 0 wins from 18 starts
🎯 Where this horse runs best
Results split by ground, distance, race level and track shape
🌧 Ground
Good (a little give)
Loves
Good to soft (some give)
Avoids
📏 Race distance
Long Distance (2M+)
Likes
🏅 Race level
Class 2 (high-level)
Avoids
Class 3 (mid-level)
Loves
🏟 Track shape
Right-handed, long straights
Loves
Right-handed, tight turns
Unknown
Left-handed, hilly
Unknown
Left-handed, long straights
Avoids
Left-handed, tight turns
Avoids
📅 Recent runs
The last 10 races, most recent first
11 Oct
5th
Chepstow
Long Distance (2m+) · Good_To_Soft · 10 runners
27 Sep
4th
Ffos Las
Long Distance (2m+) · Soft · 5 runners
12 Sep
4th
Bath
1m3f – 1m4f · Good · 6 runners
2 Sep
4th
Kempton Park
1m3f – 1m4f · 6 runners
5 Aug
9th
Kempton Park
1m3f – 1m4f · 11 runners
24 May
6th
Uttoxeter
Long Distance (2m+) · Good · 11 runners
9 May
13th
Haydock Park
1m6f – 2m · Good · 17 runners
25 Apr
🏆 Won
Sandown Park
Long Distance (2m+) · Good · 16 runners
10 Apr
7th
Aintree
Long Distance (2m+) · Good_To_Soft · 22 runners
27 Mar
7th
Wetherby
Long Distance (2m+) · Good · 18 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 |
|---|
| Cheltenham Galloping |
6 |
1 second, 1 third, 4 other |
12 Dec |
0% |
| Newbury Galloping |
4 |
4 other |
29 Nov |
0% |
| Kempton Park Galloping |
3 |
1 win, 2 other |
2 Sep |
33.3% |
| Sandown Park Galloping |
2 |
1 win, 1 other |
25 Apr |
50% |
| Haydock Park Galloping |
2 |
2 other |
9 May |
0% |
| Aintree Galloping |
2 |
2 other |
10 Apr |
0% |
| Ascot Galloping |
2 |
2 other |
14 Feb |
0% |
| Uttoxeter Sharp |
2 |
2 other |
24 May |
0% |
| Windsor Sharp |
1 |
1 other |
16 Jan |
0% |
| Wetherby Galloping |
1 |
1 other |
27 Mar |
0% |
| Huntingdon Galloping |
1 |
1 other |
23 Jan |
0% |
| Warwick Sharp |
1 |
1 other |
8 Feb |
0% |
| Ffos Las Galloping |
1 |
1 other |
27 Sep |
0% |
| Doncaster Galloping |
1 |
1 other |
27 Jan |
0% |
| Bath Undulating |
1 |
1 other |
12 Sep |
0% |
| Chepstow Galloping |
1 |
1 other |
11 Oct |
0% |