True Promise

What stands out is his partnership with jockey Shane Gray. When Gray is in the saddle, True Promise's record lifts dramatically to four wins from 12 races—a win rate of one in three—compared to his overall form. That kind of partnership is worth noting, and suggests the jockey understands how to get the best from him. Trainer Fionn McSharry, who runs a modest yard, has spoken about the horse being "a bit immature" early on but improving after that Newcastle debut win in January 2024. The yard has also had a productive season with seven winners so far, which hints at decent form and organisation.

True Promise is most dangerous on normal ground, where he has won five of 27 races (roughly one in every five and a half). He has also shown a preference for distances between seven furlongs and a mile, winning once from three races at that trip. Most tellingly, Newcastle is his happy hunting ground: three wins from 14 races there suggest he has learned the track and knows how to win on it. His typical level is Class 4 racing, where he has three wins from 18 races, so he is a consistent player in the mid-tier. At five years old and still active, there is time yet for him to turn corner again.