The most recent run came just yesterday, and the form over the last six races — finishing third, seventh, sixth, fourth, ninth, and ninth — tells a story of a horse that occasionally shows up to compete but has not yet found a way to the front. That third-place finish is the closest it has come to a win, and the two recent ninth-place finishes suggest some inconsistency in how it performs from one race to the next.
Lee Edwards has ridden Stay Hopeful more than anyone else, partnering the horse in five of its seven races without a win between them. The two have not yet clicked in the way the yard would hope. Trainer Henry Oliver operates out of Abberley in Worcestershire, and the yard has sent out seven winners this season, which shows there is plenty of ability in the operation — Stay Hopeful has just not been among those to deliver so far.
At six years old, time is not exactly running out, but it is not standing still either. The question for Oliver and the team will be whether a different approach — a different track, different conditions, or a fresh set of tactics — can finally unlock whatever potential is there. Horses with records like this one do occasionally find their moment. Whether Stay Hopeful is saving something up or simply finding the sport a tough way to make a living remains to be seen.
| Course | Races | Results | Last visited | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Worcester Galloping |
3 | 1 third, 2 other | 16 Jul | 0% |
| Uttoxeter Sharp |
2 | 2 other | 16 May | 0% |
| Bangor-on-Dee Sharp |
1 | 1 other | 29 Nov | 0% |
| Chepstow Galloping |
1 | 1 other | 27 Dec | 0% |