Vantheman

Put Vantheman on normal ground conditions and the horse transforms. Two wins from just three races on a standard surface — that's a 67% win rate, better than 2 from every 3 attempts — which is a remarkable number for any horse at any level. Compare that to its Class 2 record: zero wins from 10 races in some of Britain's better contests. That's not necessarily a knock on the horse — Class 2 races are among the most competitive you'll find outside the very top tier — but it does paint a clear picture of where Vantheman belongs and where it thrives.

Recent form suggests the horse is firmly back in its groove. In the last six races, Vantheman has finished 1st, 8th, 7th, 10th, 1st, and 3rd (reading oldest to most recent). Two wins from the last six runs, including a victory at Hamilton Park just a fortnight ago, and the horse raced again only yesterday — a sign that Kevin Ryan's yard, which has fired out 45 winners already this season, is keeping this one busy and in good form.

Tom Eaves has been the go-to jockey for this horse, the pair teaming up 14 times together. Three wins from those 14 races — winning roughly 1 in every 5 — is a productive partnership, and the fact Ryan keeps returning to Eaves for this ride suggests a combination that works. Vantheman's first win came at Ayr back in July 2023, and the Hamilton Park track in Scotland has since become a happy hunting ground. There's something to be said for a horse that finds its favourite venues and delivers on them — and right now, Vantheman looks like a horse in form, on the right tracks, and on the right ground.