Tinto

His best performances have come at Class 3 level — one step below the top tier of British racing — where he has won 5 from 25 races, a rate of 1 in 5. That is a meaningful difference from his overall record, and it suggests Dods has found the right kind of race for him. Thirsk has been his happiest hunting ground, the scene of both his first career win in May 2022 and his most recent victory in August 2024. Dods has spoken warmly about him, calling him "a grand horse" who gives his owners a lot of fun — which, for a ten-year-old still active at this level, says plenty.

His regular partner is Connor Beasley, who has ridden him 18 times and won on 3 of those occasions — roughly 1 in every 6 rides together. Dods's approach with him is interesting: he likes to give Tinto space to find his own rhythm rather than asking him to weave through a pack of horses, and he has experimented with and without cheekpieces to find what brings out the best in him. The yard has also floated the idea of a tilt at the Wokingham, one of the most competitive sprint races at Royal Ascot, after what the team described as a career-best performance at Newmarket.

His recent form — finishing outside the top ten in each of his last six races — is the obvious concern, and his last win now stands 22 months ago. He does appear to have a preference for faster, drier ground, winning 2 from 9 races in those conditions compared to a more modest record elsewhere. With 43 winners already sent out by the Dods yard this season, the team is clearly in form. The question now is whether Tinto, who raced just yesterday, has one more good day left in him.