Pinball Wizard

The conditions that unlock Pinball Wizard are pretty specific, and once you know them, the picture sharpens. On wet or muddy ground, the horse transforms: 2 wins from just 4 races gives it a 50% win rate in those conditions, which is extraordinary. Most horses at this level would be pleased with 1 win in 10. Pair that with a distance of five to six and a half furlongs — sharp, quick races rather than long slogs — and Pinball Wizard hits its sweet spot, winning 2 of its 10 races at those trips, or 1 in every 5.

Then there is Kempton Park. Two wins from three races at that track is the kind of record that makes you sit up. For context, even good horses often go years without winning at a single venue. Pinball Wizard has turned Kempton into something close to a home patch, and its very first career win came there back in September 2021. It operates mostly at Class 5 level — the bread-and-butter tier of British racing, below the glamour events — and has won 2 of 5 races at that level, a 40% win rate that suggests it belongs there and can be competitive when the pieces fall into place.

The less encouraging news is the current form. Pinball Wizard has not won in its last six races, with finishes of third, fourteenth, seventh, twelfth, and two unplaced efforts before that. The most recent win came at Wolverhampton in September 2024, nearly 22 months ago. The horse raced just yesterday and is still active, so the yard clearly believe there is more to come. John C McConnell's yard in Co Meath has been in fine shape this season — 36 winners sent out is a serious tally — and regular rider Sean D Bowen has partnered the horse to both of those wins from 24 attempts together. The formula for another victory exists. It just needs the rain to fall and the right track to come around.