Tashkhan

Ellison has been candid about this for years: Tashkhan needs it wet. Not just soft — heavy, proper winter ground where every stride is a test of stamina. On fast, dry ground he struggles. On the deep stuff he comes alive, and it is no coincidence that both of his career wins have come in exactly those conditions. His trainer has described him as a horse built entirely for distance and attrition — "all he does is stay" — which is about as honest and affectionate a summary as you will get from a racehorse trainer. Over two miles or more, Tashkhan wins 2 of every 17 races (12%), which is a solid return at that trip, especially for a horse who spends most of his time in the wrong conditions entirely.

His finest hour came at Chester in September 2023, when he won a top-level Class 2 race — one of the better races in Britain — and the team followed it up with trips to Newmarket and even Longchamp in France. He picked up over £100,000 in prize money across those three races alone, which is remarkable for a horse Ellison has noted cost very little to buy. He ran his heart out at Longchamp after a hard race at Newmarket just days earlier, and his trainer said so plainly afterwards — there was no hiding the effort it took.

More recently, Tashkhan switched to jumping and won at Hexham in December 2025, his first win in nearly two years. It was described as a learning experience as much as a victory — he was excitable and needed the run — but it confirmed that the old stamina and toughness are still there. He has not won in his last six races since, and his record in the very top Class 1 races is 0 from 13, which reflects the level he has been asked to compete at rather than a lack of effort. He raced just yesterday, and at 8 years old he is still turning up. Tashkhan is not flashy, but he keeps coming back.