Red Hat Eagle

His form over the past six races tells the story of a horse treading water. A second place at his most recent outing, then a run of mid-field finishes, suggests he is not firing consistently enough to challenge at the higher end of the weights. He hasn't found his way to the winner's enclosure in nearly two years — his last victory came at Chelmsford on 7 July 2024 — which is a long drought for any racehorse. That said, trainer William Knight's yard at Newmarket is firing on all cylinders with 28 winners this season, so there is at least proven expertise in the corner.

The clue to Red Hat Eagle's potential lies in his track record on wet or muddy ground. When the going gets soft, he transforms into a different proposition entirely, winning 2 of his 4 races on those conditions — a 50 percent win rate that stands out like a beacon. He also shows a clear preference for races at around 1 mile 1 furlong to 1 mile 2 furlongs, where he has won 4 of 18 races (22 percent). Combine those two facts and you have a horse worth following when there has been recent rain and the race distance sits in his sweet spot. At Class 5 level, where he typically competes, he hasn't had much luck — just 1 win from 12 races — which may explain why he has been struggling to break his two-year duck. A step up or a change of terrain could yet spark something.