Operation Gimcrack

The horse is a Newcastle specialist. He has won twice there from eight races — better than one in four when the track suits him. His most recent victory came just this week, on 19 September 2026, which means Operation Gimcrack is genuinely active and still performing. He clearly has something about him when the Newcastle surface plays to his strengths, and that kind of course form is the mark of a horse with a recognisable pattern trainers and jockeys can exploit.

Normal ground is his sweet spot too. On standard conditions, he wins roughly one in every three races (3 wins from 9), compared to that flat 12% win rate overall. Move him onto anything softer or firmer and he becomes less reliable, so Bryan Smart's team at Sutton Bank have clearly learned to be patient about the conditions they run in. When the jockey is David Nolan, things improve sharply as well — Nolan has ridden him to two wins from seven races together, a win rate of 29%, suggesting they have genuine understanding.

The recent form tells a mixed story. A third-place finish last time out followed a win, and before that a second and a sixth, which is the kind of inconsistency you see in a horse still capable of better days but not guaranteed to deliver them. At six years old, Operation Gimcrack is established now, probably past his developmental peak. His value lies in being ridden by someone who knows him at a track and on ground where he thrives — and this week's Newcastle win shows that formula still works.