Novamay

Michael Dods trains Novamay from his yard at Piercebridge in County Durham, and it is worth noting that the operation is in fine form right now — 43 winners sent out already this season. When a horse comes from a yard running that hot, it tends to benefit from the confidence and momentum that flows through a well-functioning team. Dods clearly knows how to keep horses sharp and ready to run.

The partnership with jockey Rhys Elliott is one of the more interesting threads in this story. In seven races together, Elliott has ridden Novamay to 2 wins — a win rate of 29%, or roughly 1 in every 3.5 rides. That is meaningfully better than Novamay's overall record, suggesting the two have built something of an understanding. When you see Elliott's name in the saddle, it is worth paying attention.

Ground conditions matter a great deal in racing, and Novamay has a clear preference for normal ground — neither too wet nor baked hard. On those standard conditions, the horse has won 3 of its 7 races, a 43% win rate that is genuinely impressive. Nearly half of all races run on its preferred surface have ended in victory. That is not luck — that is a horse that knows what it likes and delivers when it gets it.

The most recent win came at Ayr on 20 June 2026, just four weeks ago, and recent form shows a first place followed by a fifth and a sixth — so while the last two results are a little quieter, the winning thread is very much alive. Novamay raced just one day ago, meaning it is right in the thick of its season. First career win came at Ripon in July 2025, and the horse has built steadily from there. This is a competitive, active horse in good hands, with a jockey who brings out its best and a very clear idea of the conditions it wants.