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Our Absent Friends

Our Absent Friends is a steady operator for Tristan Davidson's Irthington yard in Cumbria—the kind of eight-year-old that turns up race after race without fanfare, picks off a win when conditions suit, and keeps moving forward. Over 62 races, the horse has won 9 times and finished in the money 25 times, a 15% win rate that speaks to genuine consistency rather than brilliance. What marks this horse out, however, is a clear preference for soft going. On wet or muddy ground, Our Absent Friends has won 2 of 6 races (33%); step slightly softer and the record improves to 2 of 5 (40%). This is not coincidence—it is a real edge, and it is the kind of detail that matters to a trainer who knows his horse.Based on TrackLab's AI analysis
Quick Facts
Age
8 years old
Sex
Gelding
Colour
Chestnut
Father
Camacho
Mother
Practicallyperfect
Owner
R W Hislop
Rating
75

📊 Key Numbers

Career statistics for this horse
62
Career races
9
Wins
14.5%
Win rate
avg ~10%
40.3%
Place rate (top 3)
avg ~30%
1 days
Since last race

🔍 Full Analysis

TrackLab's AI-generated assessment based on career data and recent form
TrackLab's Detailed Breakdown
Auto-Generated

Catterick Bridge is a circuit where Our Absent Friends has flourished, winning 2 of its 6 races there. The most recent victory came just two weeks ago on 17 August, suggesting the horse is sharp and racing well. Over the last six runs, form has been mixed—a couple of placings, a couple of blank days—but 2 wins from the last 6 outing shows there is still plenty of racing left in the tank. Recent history matters for an older horse, and that record argues this one is not done yet.

Jason Hart has been the regular rider, though the partnership has won only 2 of 16 races together (12%), a lower return than the horse's overall record might suggest. At Class 5 level, where Our Absent Friends typically competes, the win rate sits at just 7% (2 of 29 races), which reflects the modest quality of those contests. This is a workhorse, not a star—but a workhorse with a quirk and a track it owns. On the right ground at the right track, Our Absent Friends knows what to do.

Strengths & Risks

What the data says works for and against this horse
✓ What works in their favour
Excellent record on soft ground: 2 wins from 6 starts (33%)
Excellent record on good_to_soft ground: 2 wins from 5 starts (40%)
Course specialist at Newcastle: 3 wins from 25 starts (12%)
⚠ What to watch out for
Poor record on good ground: 1 wins from 16 starts
Poor record on standard_to_slow ground: 0 wins from 4 starts
Yet to win at Musselburgh in 6 attempts

🎯 Where This Horse Thrives

Performance broken down by ground, distance, class, and track type
🌧 Ground Conditions
Soft (muddy)
Loves
Good to soft (some give)
Loves
Standard (all-weather)
Ok
Good to firm (drying out)
Ok
Heavy (very wet)
Unknown
Good (firm-ish)
Avoids
Standard to slow (all-weather)
Avoids
📏 Race Distance
5F – 6½F
7F – 1M
Unknown
1M1F – 1M2F
Unknown
🏅 Competition Level
Class 3 (mid-level)
Unknown
Class 4 (standard)
Ok
Class 5 (entry-level)
Avoids
Class 6 (grassroots)
Loves
🏟 Track Shape
Left-handed, tight turns
Loves
Left-handed, long straights
Ok
Right-handed, tight turns
Ok
Long straights
Unknown
Right-handed, hilly
Unknown

📅 Recent Runs

The last 10 races, most recent first
31 Aug
3rd
Ripon
5f – 6½f · Soft · 9 runners
26 Aug
5th
Catterick Bridge
5f – 6½f · Good · 10 runners
17 Aug
🏆 Won
Catterick Bridge
5f – 6½f · Good · 11 runners
14 Aug
9th
Thirsk
5f – 6½f · Good · 9 runners
15 Jul
🏆 Won
Catterick Bridge
5f – 6½f · Good_To_Firm · 9 runners
13 Jul
9th
Ayr
5f – 6½f · Good_To_Firm · 11 runners
5 Jul
7th
Ayr
5f – 6½f · Good · 7 runners
22 Jun
3rd
Catterick Bridge
5f – 6½f · Good_To_Firm · 7 runners
28 May
6th
Ripon
5f – 6½f · Good · 8 runners
29 Mar
17th
Doncaster
5f – 6½f · Good_To_Soft · 18 runners

🏇 Jockey Partnerships

Every jockey who has ridden this horse, sorted by rides together
Jason Hart Current Jockey
12.5%
Win rate
2/16
Won / Rode
20%
Win rate
3/15
Won / Rode
Phil Dennis
22.2%
Win rate
2/9
Won / Rode
0%
Win rate
0/3
Won / Rode
Millie Wonnacott
0%
Win rate
0/1
Won / Rode
Zak Wheatley
0%
Win rate
0/1
Won / Rode
0%
Win rate
0/1
Won / Rode
0%
Win rate
0/1
Won / Rode
0%
Win rate
0/1
Won / Rode
0%
Win rate
0/1
Won / Rode
0%
Win rate
0/1
Won / Rode
0%
Win rate
0/1
Won / Rode
0%
Win rate
0/1
Won / Rode
0%
Win rate
0/1
Won / Rode
0%
Win rate
0/1
Won / Rode

🏟 Track Record

Win rate at each course this horse has visited
CourseRacesResultsLast visitedWin rate
Newcastle
Galloping
25 3 wins, 2 seconds, 4 thirds, 16 other 5 Mar 12%
Catterick Bridge
Sharp
6 2 wins, 1 third, 3 other 26 Aug 33.3%
Ayr
Galloping
6 1 win, 1 second, 1 third, 3 other 13 Jul 16.7%
Ripon
Sharp
6 1 win, 2 seconds, 1 third, 2 other 31 Aug 16.7%
Musselburgh
Sharp
6 1 second, 3 thirds, 2 other 5 Nov 0%
Haydock Park
Galloping
4 1 win, 3 other 17 Oct 25%
Redcar
Galloping
3 1 win, 2 other 24 Sep 33.3%
Thirsk
Galloping
2 2 other 14 Aug 0%
Doncaster
Galloping
2 2 other 29 Mar 0%
chelmsford 1 1 other 27 Oct 0%
Carlisle
Undulating
1 1 other 22 May 0%