Pop Star

The recent form tells a more compelling story. After a rough patch — finishing 10th, 12th, and 11th in three consecutive races — Pop Star has come roaring back with a win followed by two more placed efforts. That kind of turnaround is not accidental. It suggests a horse that has found its feet again, and the timing could not be better: it raced just one day ago and is clearly in the thick of an active campaign right now.

That most recent win came at Carlisle on 29 May 2026, only three weeks ago, which means Pop Star arrives at this stage of the season in form rather than chasing it. The first career win came back in August 2023 at Navan, so there is a well-travelled horse here — one that has taken time to figure out, but that is now delivering when asked.

The partnership with jockey Kieran O'Neill is worth noting. In 12 races together, they have won twice — a win rate of roughly 1 in every 6 (17%), which is actually better than Pop Star's overall record. That is a meaningful gap and suggests O'Neill brings something out in this horse that not every jockey manages to find. It is the kind of stat a knowledgeable punter quietly files away.

Behind the scenes, trainer Iain Jardine runs a busy and productive yard in Carrutherstown. Fifty-seven winners from his stable this season alone tells you this is not a small operation running on hope — it is a well-organised yard that knows how to get horses to the track in the right shape. Pop Star has historically struggled at its most common level of competition, winning none of its 18 races at Class 4, which means every win to date has come when the puzzle has been put together just right. Right now, that puzzle looks closer to solved than it has in a while.