Start Again

The recent form tells an interesting story. Start Again won at Wetherby just a day ago, which means it is currently in a purple patch. In its last six races, it has won twice, finished in the top 3 twice more, and had a couple of disappointing runs sandwiched in between. That kind of uneven record is typical of a horse that has found its level — capable on its day but not reliably dominant. Most of its racing happens at Class 5, the bottom tier of competitive races, where it has yet to win after three attempts. This suggests the horse actually performs better in slightly lesser races, which is both realistic and useful information for the trainer and his team.

Trainer Fergal O'Brien, based at Withington in Gloucestershire, runs a powerful yard that has already sent out 90 winners this season alone. Start Again's recent victory at Wetherby shows O'Brien is still getting the best out of the horse even in its sixth year. Jockey Kielan Woods has ridden it five times, winning once, which is not a strong win rate but reflects the inconsistency of the horse rather than any weakness in the partnership. For a horse that competes mostly in lower-grade races, Start Again is doing exactly what you would want — staying active, winning regularly enough to justify running, and proving it is tougher than it might look on paper.