Pinball Wizard

The key to getting the most out of him appears to be ground conditions. When the track is wet or muddy, Pinball Wizard comes alive. He's won 2 of his 4 races on slow ground, a 50% win rate that stands out sharply against his overall record. He also prefers shorter distances — races between 5 and 6.5 furlongs — where he has won twice from 10 attempts. Put those two factors together — wet ground, a shorter sprint — and his the yard will have a much better chance of seeing him compete for prizes.

There's also a curious strength at Kempton Park. The horse has won twice from just three races there, making it his best hunting ground by some distance. Since his first win at the track back in 2021, he's returned regularly and punched well above his overall record. His last victory came at Wolverhampton in September 2024, but it's now been two years without a win, suggesting he may be hitting the twilight of his useful racing life.

Trainer John McConnell, based in Ireland at Stamullen, has built a productive yard this season with 36 winners to his name. Most of Pinball Wizard's races have come with Sean D Bowen in the saddle — 2 wins from 24 rides together — and when the horse has competed at Class 5 level, he's shown real ability, winning 2 of 5 races. He's a horse for specialists who understand his preferences: slow ground, short distances, and ideally back at a track where he knows his way around. That formula has worked before and could work again, but time is running short.