Ventura Express

What makes Ventura Express worth watching is his connection with jockey David Nolan. Nolan has ridden him 12 times and won twice — a 17% win rate that far outstrips his overall record. The partnership clicks, and in a sport where such details matter, that consistency is valuable. Trainer Paul Midgley, based at Westow in North Yorkshire, has built a reputation as a shrewd operator, and his yard has already sent out 39 winners this season. Midgley speaks of Ventura Express with genuine affection, calling him fantastic value and worth his weight in gold — high praise for a horse who pays his way at modest prize money.

The horse thrives on a particular recipe: a stiff five-furlong track and an end-to-end gallop that plays to his strengths. Strip away those conditions and he struggles, as recent outings have shown. His last six races tell of a horse slightly out of sync, with no wins but a string of mid-field finishes — all places, no victories. Yet at 27 months between wins, he remains active and race-fit. For a nine-year-old still competing regularly, Ventura Express has earned his place in the yard. He may never win a significant race, but at Class 4 level, he remains a genuine player when conditions and company line up right.