Watchoutitscookie

The key to unlocking this horse has always been the ground. On slightly soft, damp terrain, Watchoutitscookie transforms. It has won 2 from 9 races in those conditions — a win rate of 22%, or roughly 1 in every 4 races — which is a completely different animal to the flat 7% it manages elsewhere across its 27 races at Class 5 level. That gap is not a coincidence. When the ground gets soft underfoot, this horse is suddenly competitive in a way it simply isn't on faster, firmer surfaces. Any time rain falls before a race, it becomes far more interesting.

The career has had two clear highlights. The first win came at Wincanton in March 2023, and the second — more recently — at Newcastle in December 2024. That Newcastle success is the one to hold onto, because it shows the horse can still find a moment of quality even at this stage of its career. That said, it has not won in its last 6 races, and the recent form — finishing 11th, 7th, 3rd, 7th, 3rd, and 2nd — tells a story of a horse that occasionally threatens without quite delivering. Two third-place finishes and a runner-up in that sequence suggest it is not disgracing itself, but the win has proven elusive.

Jockey Lorcan Murtagh knows this horse better than anyone, having ridden it 8 times together and coming away with 1 win — a 12% win rate, or roughly 1 in every 8 rides. That is meaningfully better than the horse's overall record, which suggests the partnership matters. Trainer Nigel Hawke, based in Devon, has sent out 12 winners already this season, so the yard is in decent form. Watchoutitscookie raced just one day ago and remains active, which means the yard are still investing faith in what this horse can do. Given the right conditions — wet ground, the right track — it remains a horse worth watching.