That said, context matters. Two-year-olds are essentially teenagers being asked to compete professionally, and it takes some horses far longer than others to work out what racing is actually about. Three races is a small sample, and the fact that Secret Rival raced just yesterday suggests the team are keeping the horse busy and giving it every opportunity to click into gear.
The trainer is Ed Walker, who operates out of Upper Lambourn in Berkshire — one of the most famous training centres in British racing. Walker's yard has sent out 76 winners already this season, which is a genuinely impressive volume and speaks to an operation that knows how to get horses ready to perform. When a yard of that calibre keeps running a horse, it usually means they believe something better is coming. Whether Secret Rival can justify that faith remains the question.
| Course | Races | Results | Last visited | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chepstow Galloping |
2 | 2 other | 16 Jul | 0% |
| Newbury Galloping |
1 | 1 other | 23 Jun | 0% |