Gary Hanmer, who trains out of Tattenhall in Cheshire and has sent out 19 winners already this season, explains that Risk Averse Rebel was simply too big and too weak to do himself justice as a two-year-old. Those early races were essentially administrative — three runs to get him officially rated and entered into the right races going forward. Now that he has filled out and strengthened up, the form he has been showing has been notably consistent. His last six runs read 3-5-4-3-3-3: no wins, but placing third three times in a row before that suggests a horse who is always in the mix without quite getting over the line.
What Hanmer says next is the really interesting part. He believes the horse is crying out for more distance and, further down the line, for jumping hurdles. Right now, though, the owners want a win on the Flat first, and they have a plan: Doncaster on April 21, stepping up to a mile and a half for the first time and racing on grass rather than an artificial surface. That combination — more ground to cover and a different surface — could be exactly the change that unlocks him. Horses sometimes find their true level only when the conditions finally suit, and Hanmer clearly thinks that day is coming.
Raced just yesterday, Risk Averse Rebel is very much a horse in mid-campaign. He has not won in his last six races, but the consistent placing tells you he belongs at this level. The question is whether Doncaster hands him the conditions he needs to finally convert that presence into a victory.
| Course | Races | Results | Last visited | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wolverhampton Galloping |
5 | 4 thirds, 1 other | 2 Jun | 0% |
| Doncaster Galloping |
2 | 2 other | 24 Apr | 0% |
| Haydock Park Galloping |
2 | 2 other | 27 Sep | 0% |
| Chester Tight |
1 | 1 other | 30 Aug | 0% |