Riffa Spirit

That single win came at Chelmsford on 14 August 2025, and it arrived at Class 5 level, which is the bread-and-butter tier of British racing where most horses spend the bulk of their careers. At that level, Riffa Spirit has actually been fairly competitive — winning 1 of 3 races, or roughly 1 in 3, which is a solid record. The challenge is that results elsewhere have been harder to come by, and the last six runs have produced nothing better than a third place, with a couple of disappointing seventh and eighth-place finishes in the mix.

Riffa Spirit races out of the Malton yard of Declan Carroll, a trainer based in North Yorkshire who has quietly had a productive season — 24 winners sent out so far. Carroll is the kind of trainer who tends to place his horses sensibly rather than overstretching them, so it is worth watching where Riffa Spirit lines up next. The horse raced just one day ago, which means it is bang in the middle of an active campaign rather than being freshened up between runs.

At three years old, there is still time for this one to click. Some horses at this age are simply taking a while to work out what racing is all about, and a record of 1 win from 8 races does not close any doors. The Chelmsford win proves the ability is there on the right day. Whether Riffa Spirit can find that form again — and do it more than once — is the question worth asking.