Poppa Poutine

That Wincanton record is the kind of thing that makes racing genuinely interesting. It is not just that he has won there twice — it is that he has barely been beaten in three visits. Some horses simply take to a particular track, whether it is the shape of the bends, the way the ground sits, or something harder to explain. Whatever the reason, Poppa Poutine is a Wincanton horse, and his most recent win there came on 5 December 2024, over 17 months after his very first win at the same track back in March 2022. He returned to the scene of his debut success and did it all over again.

His partnership with jockey Sam Twiston-Davies is the defining relationship of his career. The two have raced together 16 times, producing both of Poppa Poutine's wins — a win rate of around 1 in every 8 rides together, which is a decent return at the level they operate. Twiston-Davies clearly understands this horse, and the horse clearly runs his best for him. Most of Poppa Poutine's racing has come in Class 3 company — one step below the very top tier — where he has won 1 from 10, a tough level to win at consistently.

At 10 years old and having raced just yesterday, Poppa Poutine is very much still in the game. His recent form — a third, a couple of unfinished runs, then a fourth, a win, and a sixth — paints the picture of a horse who shows up and competes, occasionally brilliantly. He is not the kind of horse who dominates at the highest level, but he is the kind of horse you want on your side when the race is at Wincanton.