Since then, nothing has come easy. Regional has not won in his last six races, and it has been nearly three years since his last victory at Haydock. At eight years old, he is running out of chances to recapture that form. His recent record reads 2-4-10-3-9-3 — mostly midfield finishes and the occasional close thing, but no wins. The statistics confirm it: he typically races in Class 2 events, where he has won just 1 of 9 races. He performs best on normal ground, where he has won 2 of 8, but opportunities come rarely.
Bethell's stable has had a strong season with 61 winners, and the trainer has not given up on Regional. In recent months, he has spoken of the horse as still carrying talent, planning entries in competitive sprint races. Callum Rodriguez, who has ridden Regional for three of his wins, partners him far more often than any other jockey — winning at a rate of 1 in 4 times they team up. That record suggests Rodriguez knows how to get the best from him. Whether Regional can find the winning thread again at eight years old remains uncertain, but for a horse that has touched genuine class, there is always hope he might find it once more.
| Course | Races | Results | Last run | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| York Galloping |
5 | 1 win, 1 third, 3 other | 6 Sep | 20% |
| Ascot Galloping |
4 | 2 seconds, 1 third, 1 other | 3 Oct | 0% |
| Haydock Park Galloping |
2 | 2 wins | 9 Sep | 100% |
| Newbury Galloping |
2 | 1 third, 1 other | 19 Jul | 0% |
| Newcastle Galloping |
1 | 1 other | 2 Jan | 0% |
| chelmsford | 1 | 1 second | 22 Nov | 0% |
| Epsom Downs Undulating |
1 | 1 other | 4 Jun | 0% |
| Goodwood Undulating |
1 | 1 third | 30 Jul | 0% |
| meydan | 1 | 1 third | 5 Apr | 0% |
| The Curragh Galloping |
1 | 1 second | 25 May | 0% |
| Beverley Undulating |
1 | 1 other | 30 Aug | 0% |
| Ripon Sharp |
1 | 1 third | 25 Sep | 0% |
| Kempton Park Galloping |
1 | 1 other | 5 Oct | 0% |
| Doncaster Galloping |
1 | 1 second | 1 Jul | 0% |