Stay Hopeful
Stay Hopeful finally broke through this week with a maiden victory at Hexham, eight races into a career that has threatened more than it has delivered. The six-year-old, trained by
Cian Collins at Navan, had threatened to place in three of those earlier attempts before landing the win on 2 October — a breakthrough that came just in time, given how long the wait has been. The horse still needs to prove it can do this again.
Based on TrackLab's analysis
📊 Key numbers
Career totals for this horse
🏁 Next race
Today
Sedgefield
About 2.6 miles · Good ground · 8 runners
→
🔍 Full analysis
Our model's view, based on this horse's career and recent runs
What is curious is the disconnect between Stay Hopeful and Lee Edwards, the jockey who has ridden it most often. Edwards has partnered the horse five times without a win, which raises the question of whether a change in the saddle might help next time out. The yard itself is in good form, with Cian Collins sending out 20 winners already this season, so the infrastructure is there to support another run. Whether Stay Hopeful has the ability to build on this solitary success remains to be seen. The horse will need to turn the odd victory into a pattern of winning rather than a one-off relief.
⚡ Strengths and risks
What helps this horse and what to watch out for
✓ What works in their favour
✔ Excellent record on good ground: 1 wins from 5 starts (20%)
🎯 Where this horse runs best
Results split by ground, distance, race level and track shape
🌧 Ground
Good (a little give)
Loves
Good to soft (some give)
Unknown
📏 Race distance
Long Distance (2M+)
Likes
🏅 Race level
Class 3 (mid-level)
Unknown
Class 4 (standard)
Unknown
🏟 Track shape
Left-handed, hilly
Unknown
Left-handed, long straights
Avoids
Left-handed, tight turns
Avoids
📅 Recent runs
The last 10 races, most recent first
2 Oct
🏆 Won
Hexham
Long Distance (2m+) · Good · 8 runners
16 Jul
3rd
Worcester
Long Distance (2m+) · Good · 8 runners
6 Jun
7th
Worcester
Long Distance (2m+) · Good · 12 runners
28 May
6th
Worcester
Long Distance (2m+) · Good · 10 runners
16 May
4th
Uttoxeter
Long Distance (2m+) · Good · 13 runners
27 Dec
9th
Chepstow
Long Distance (2m+) · Good_To_Soft · 11 runners
19 Dec
9th
Uttoxeter
1m6f – 2m · Heavy · 14 runners
29 Nov
8th
Bangor-on-Dee
Long Distance (2m+) · Soft · 14 runners
🏇 Jockeys
Every jockey who has ridden this horse, most rides first
🏟 Course record
Win rate at each course this horse has visited
| Course | Races | Results | Last run | Win rate |
|---|
| Worcester Galloping |
3 |
1 third, 2 other |
16 Jul |
0% |
| Uttoxeter Sharp |
2 |
2 other |
16 May |
0% |
| Hexham Undulating |
1 |
1 win |
2 Oct |
100% |
| Chepstow Galloping |
1 |
1 other |
27 Dec |
0% |
| Bangor-on-Dee Sharp |
1 |
1 other |
29 Nov |
0% |