Spirit Genie

What marks Spirit Genie out is his toughness at top tracks. He won a Class 2 race at Chester in May 2024, one of Britain's most famous and challenging courses, and has kept competing at that level — though Class 2 racing suits him less consistently, with just 1 win from 10 races at that grade. His most recent victory came at Pontefract seven weeks ago, suggesting he still has winning races in him, though his form over the last six runs has been erratic: a seventh place, then fifth, first, twelfth, eighth, and seventh. That kind of inconsistency is a sign that Spirit Genie is neither a reliable bet nor a horse in sharp form right now.

Trained by Jennie Candlish at Basford in Staffordshire, Spirit Genie has spent most of his racing life in the care of a yard that has already sent out 64 winners this season — a healthy win rate that speaks to Candlish's capability. His usual jockey, George Wood, has won 2 of 12 races aboard him, a similar win rate to the horse's overall record. The pair know each other well enough, but there is nothing in that partnership to suggest a hidden edge.

Spirit Genie has been racing consistently since August 2022, when he notched his first win at Roscommon. He is a workhorse rather than a star, the kind of horse that makes its living at the lower end of top-class racing — competitive enough to beat decent rivals occasionally, but not quite good enough to dominate any particular level. For punters, he is a horse to watch when the prices are right and the race conditions suit, but not one to chase blindly.