So Grateful

The career numbers tell a story of consistency rather than brilliance: 6 wins and 23 places from 57 races, a win rate of roughly 1 in every 9. That is not a horse setting the world alight, but 23 placed finishes means it has finished in the first three in nearly half its races overall — which is exactly the kind of dependable performer that keeps a yard ticking over. Speaking of which, the Michael and David Easterby operation at Sheriff Hutton in North Yorkshire has sent out 55 winners this season alone, so So Grateful is one piece of a very busy, productive outfit.

What makes this horse genuinely interesting is its relationship with Southwell. Three wins from 12 races there is a remarkably good record — that is 1 in every 4 races at that track, compared to 1 in 9 everywhere else. Something about Southwell suits it, whether that is the track shape, the surface, or simply familiarity built up over years of racing there. Its very first career win came at Southwell back in July 2022, and it has kept going back and kept performing. Jockey Joanna Mason has also clearly found a connection with this horse — 3 wins from 17 races together works out at winning roughly 1 in every 6, which is a noticeably better return than its overall average, and it is easy to see why the partnership has been kept together.

The last win came at Thirsk in May 2025, and the most recent six races have brought a second place as the best result, with some less encouraging finishes behind it. At eight years old, with 57 races on the clock, a run of six without a win is not a crisis — but it does suggest the horse is waiting for conditions to click into place again. Normal or dry ground suits it best, and it prefers shorter sprint distances. Race it on a dry summer day over a sharp trip, and So Grateful has shown more than once that it still knows how to get the job done.