Rickety Gate

Across 31 races, he has won 5 and placed in 12 more, giving him a win rate of roughly 1 in every 6 runs. That is not spectacular, but it is the record of a horse that competes consistently rather than occasionally threatening and disappearing. His first win came at Carlisle in October 2021, and his most recent was back at the same track in April 2025 — so Carlisle clearly suits him. At Kelso he has an even sharper record: 2 wins from just 4 visits, which is a genuinely impressive hit rate for any horse. When a horse wins half its races at a specific track, you pay attention.

The key to getting the best from him appears to be the ground. On normal conditions he has won 4 of 13 races — nearly 1 in 3 — which is a meaningfully better record than his overall figures. Richards has been open about not wanting to run him when the ground turns wet and heavy, and the numbers back that caution up entirely. His jockey of choice is Conor Rabbitt, who has ridden him 11 times and won 4 of those — a partnership that wins roughly 1 in every 3 races together, which is an unusually productive combination at this level.

He does most of his racing at Class 5, the bread-and-butter level of the sport, which is where his ability comfortably sits. Within that world, Richards once suggested he might jump fences rather than hurdles, noting he cleared obstacles tidily enough to handle it. That switch has not happened yet, but it remains an intriguing option for a horse with a bit of spring still in his step.

He has not won in his last 6 races, and his recent form figures make for modest reading. But Rickety Gate raced just yesterday and is clearly still in good enough shape to be out competing. At 11, still active, still placed regularly, still trained by one of the north's shrewdest handlers — there is plenty of life in him yet.