Pilgrim

The two bookend wins of Pilgrim's career so far are worth pausing on. The first came at York in October 2023 — a track with a reputation for quality and a crowd to match. Then, last June, came a Class 2 win at Ascot, which is about as prestigious an address as British racing offers. Winning there at that level is not a fluke; it is a statement. Most recently, Pilgrim crossed the line first at Musselburgh just seven weeks ago, suggesting the horse is in the form of its life right now.

The partnership with jockey Joe Fanning is one of the more compelling subplots in Pilgrim's story. Together they have won 3 of their 10 races — that is 30%, or roughly 1 in every 3 times they go out together. For context, that is well above Pilgrim's overall win rate, and it suggests Fanning understands exactly what this horse needs. Trainer David and Nicola Barron, based in Maunby in North Yorkshire, have been in fine form themselves this season with 15 winners from the yard — a healthy tally that puts Pilgrim's success in the context of a genuinely productive operation.

One detail that stands out in Pilgrim's record is the preference for soft or slightly wet ground. In three races on those conditions, Pilgrim has won twice — that is a 67% win rate, or 2 from 3. Compare that to the 11% return at Class 2 on standard conditions and the picture becomes clear: when the forecast is damp and the ground yields underfoot, this is a horse worth watching closely. Recent form shows a dip before that Musselburgh win, with a couple of difficult runs, but the horse raced just yesterday and clearly remains in active work. Pilgrim is very much a horse in motion.