Presentandcounting

At Uttoxeter, he is a different horse entirely. He has won 2 of his 3 races there, most recently in July 2025, which tells you something powerful: this is a track that suits him, one where his abilities shine through. In Class 3 races — his natural level — he wins roughly 1 in every 4 starts (4 wins from 15). When he steps up to Class 2, the wins dry up. He remains a reliable earner in the placings, finishing in the money on 21 of his 39 starts, but he is at his best in the middle tier, where his talents are just enough.

Brian Hughes has been his regular partner, and the two have clicked. Together they have won 8 races from 27 — a 30% win rate, significantly better than his overall record. That partnership matters: a good jockey who understands a horse's quirks and strengths can draw out more than a casual rider. His trainer, Donald McCain, works from Cholmondeley in Cheshire and is clearly running a busy, successful yard — 55 winners this season alone — which suggests Presentandcounting benefits from being part of an operation that knows what it is doing.

The recent form is concerning. He has not won in his last six races, finishing out of the placings twice. He raced just a day ago, so he remains active, but the dry spell is now 14 months long — a frustration for those who saw him win at Uttoxeter last summer. At 12 years old, he is not ancient by racing standards, but the window for comeback wins is narrowing. Whether Hughes can unlock another win at a familiar track, or whether Presentandcounting's best days are behind him, will become clear soon enough.