His recent form reads 9-2-5-2-10-10, which is a mixed picture. The two runner-up finishes in there show he can get involved, but the back-to-back tenth-place finishes before that are harder to explain away. He is most at home over longer distances — two miles or more — where he has won 1 from 13 races, or roughly 1 in every 13 attempts. That is a modest number, but it does represent his entire career success story, so when he gets the trip, at least he is in with a chance.
The partnership with jockey Sean Houlihan has been a long one without reward — 15 races together and still waiting for that first shared victory. That kind of loyalty between horse and rider is not uncommon in smaller yards, but it does mean the pair have done a lot of travelling for very little return. Trainer Linda Blackford operates out of Rackenford in Devon and has sent out just one winner this season, so this is a small, local operation rather than a big powerhouse stable.
What is perhaps most telling is where Prince Rhinegold tends to compete. Class 5 is the entry-level tier of British racing — races designed for horses who have not shown enough to step up — and he has not won any of his 12 races at that level. A horse who cannot win at the lowest grade after 20 career races is a tough proposition for anyone hoping to see him back in the spotlight. He is clearly loved and kept in training at 8 years old, which says something about the team around him, but the numbers suggest his best days — or rather, his one best day — are already behind him.
| Course | Races | Results | Last visited | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wincanton Galloping |
7 | 2 seconds, 1 third, 4 other | 1 Apr | 0% |
| Exeter Undulating |
6 | 1 win, 5 other | 7 Nov | 16.7% |
| Ffos Las Galloping |
3 | 3 other | 6 May | 0% |
| Taunton Undulating |
3 | 3 other | 25 Mar | 0% |
| Warwick Sharp |
1 | 1 other | 14 Apr | 0% |