Second Fiddle

Her real home is Newcastle, where she has won 5 of her 12 races there, a win rate of better than 1 in 2.4 visits. This is the kind of course specialisation that catches the eye of smart punters. She is at her best over a mile and a quarter to a mile and a half, winning 6 of her 23 races at those distances. Put her on normal ground — not too soft, not too firm — and her record climbs to 5 wins from 13 races, a 38% success rate that stands out against her overall average. The pattern is clear: Newcastle, normal conditions, and her preferred trip produce results.

There is also a telling connection with jockey Aiden Brookes. Together they have won 4 of their 6 races, a 67% partnership rate that suggests genuine understanding. Trainer Iain Jardine, based in Dumfries and Galloway, has been prolific this season with 57 winners from the yard, and Second Fiddle fits the mould of a horse he places shrewdly rather than one asked to overreach.

The concern is her recent form. She has not won in her last six races, with results reading 4-10-2-4-3-3 (most recent first). Her last success came at Newcastle on 29 December 2025, now ten months ago. Interestingly, she typically races at Class 6 level — the lowest grade — where she holds a perfect 5 for 5 record. If she has stepped up in class recently, that would explain the drought. At seven years old, Second Fiddle is past her peak but still active and capable on her day, provided the conditions and company suit her. Right now, a return to Newcastle on normal ground, back at Class 6, and ridden by Brookes, would be his best recipe for breaking the losing run.