Straight A
Straight A has had the kind of racing career that keeps hope alive even when the wins don't come often. A 5-year-old trained by
Michael Appleby at Oakham, the horse has won four times from 40 races — roughly one victory every ten outings — and has picked up 15 places besides, meaning it finishes in the money far more frequently than it actually wins. The most recent win came at Wolverhampton on 25 January 2025, nearly two years ago now, which tells you that Straight A has been searching for another winner ever since. Its last six races have all ended without victory — a sequence of 5th, 4th, 4th, 5th, 2nd, and 2nd — showing the horse is still mixing placings with losses but can't quite find that winning formula again.
Based on TrackLab's analysis
📊 Key numbers
Career totals for this horse
🔍 Full analysis
Our model's view, based on this horse's career and recent runs
What makes Straight A interesting is its clear preference for certain conditions and venues. On normal ground, the horse has won three times from 17 races, a win rate of roughly one in every five starts — significantly better than its overall record and a genuine edge worth noting. The real stronghold, though, is Wolverhampton, where Straight A has managed two wins from nine races, a win rate of roughly one in every 4.5 starts. That track clearly suits it. The horse typically runs in Class 5 races, where it has won twice from 24 attempts, and is most often ridden by jockey Alistair Rawlinson, though the two have managed just two wins from 22 races together. Michael Appleby's yard has been firing on all cylinders this season with 71 winners, suggesting Straight A is part of a well-run operation even if it hasn't contributed a winner lately. After racing just a day ago, Straight A is clearly still in work and hunting for win number five.
⚡ Strengths and risks
What helps this horse and what to watch out for
✓ What works in their favour
✔ Excellent record on standard ground: 3 wins from 17 starts (18%)
⚠ What to watch out for
⚠ Poor record on standard_to_slow ground: 0 wins from 4 starts
⚠ Poor record on soft ground: 0 wins from 3 starts
⚠ Poor record on good ground: 0 wins from 3 starts
⚠ Yet to win at Doncaster in 5 attempts
🎯 Where this horse runs best
Results split by ground, distance, race level and track shape
🌧 Ground
Standard (all-weather)
Loves
Good to firm (fairly firm)
Ok
Good to soft (some give)
Unknown
Standard to slow (all-weather)
Avoids
Good (a little give)
Avoids
🏅 Race level
Class 2 (high-level)
Avoids
Class 4 (standard)
Avoids
Class 6 (grassroots)
Loves
🏟 Track shape
Left-handed, long straights
Likes
Right-handed, tight turns
Unknown
Left-handed, tight turns
Unknown
Right-handed, hilly
Avoids
Right-handed, long straights
Avoids
📅 Recent runs
The last 10 races, most recent first
3 Aug
5th
Nottingham
1m1f – 1m2f · Good_To_Firm · 6 runners
23 Jul
4th
Doncaster
7f – 1m · Good_To_Firm · 8 runners
3 Jul
4th
Doncaster
7f – 1m · Good_To_Firm · 9 runners
27 May
5th
Beverley
7f – 1m · Good_To_Firm · 13 runners
18 May
2nd
Redcar
7f – 1m · Good · 13 runners
2 May
2nd
Doncaster
7f – 1m · Good_To_Firm · 10 runners
30 Mar
4th
Kempton Park
7f – 1m · Standard_To_Slow · 6 runners
6 Feb
4th
Newcastle
7f – 1m · Standard · 9 runners
29 Jan
2nd
chelmsford
1m1f – 1m2f · Standard · 7 runners
2 Jan
4th
Wolverhampton
7f – 1m · Standard · 7 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 |
|---|
| Wolverhampton Galloping |
9 |
2 wins, 2 seconds, 1 third, 4 other |
2 Jan |
22.2% |
| Southwell Galloping |
5 |
1 win, 1 third, 3 other |
23 Oct |
20% |
| Doncaster Galloping |
5 |
1 second, 4 other |
23 Jul |
0% |
| Beverley Undulating |
3 |
3 other |
27 May |
0% |
| Kempton Park Galloping |
3 |
1 second, 2 other |
30 Mar |
0% |
| Nottingham Galloping |
2 |
2 other |
3 Aug |
0% |
| Haydock Park Galloping |
2 |
1 third, 1 other |
10 Aug |
0% |
| York Galloping |
2 |
2 other |
13 Oct |
0% |
| Newcastle Galloping |
2 |
2 other |
6 Feb |
0% |
| Leicester Sharp |
2 |
1 second, 1 other |
4 Apr |
0% |
| Great Yarmouth Galloping |
1 |
1 win |
30 Jun |
100% |
| Thirsk Galloping |
1 |
1 other |
9 Sep |
0% |
| Redcar Galloping |
1 |
1 second |
18 May |
0% |
| chelmsford |
1 |
1 second |
29 Jan |
0% |
| Lingfield Park Sharp |
1 |
1 third |
13 Jan |
0% |