Willowinghurn

The career so far has a clear shape to it. Willowinghurn broke its duck at Redcar in May 2025, then built on that with a second victory at Musselburgh in October — two very different tracks, which suggests adaptability rather than a horse that only works in one set of conditions. The sweet spot in terms of distance is between seven furlongs and a mile, where Willowinghurn has won 1 from 3 races — that's a solid 33% win rate at those trips, and notably better than its overall record. When the team finds the right race at the right distance, this horse delivers.

Class 5 is where Willowinghurn has done its best work, winning 2 from 7 races at that level — just under 1 in every 3, which is a genuinely strong return. These aren't the glamour races of the calendar, but they're competitive enough that winning them consistently takes real ability. The recent form reads 7-9-8-1-2-2, and those last three figures are the ones to focus on — a win followed by two runner-up finishes suggests Willowinghurn is currently in a purple patch, performing well despite those latest two results technically being defeats.

Behind the horse is the David O'Meara yard in Upper Helmsley, North Yorkshire — a serious, high-volume training operation that has sent out 102 winners this season alone. O'Meara's team know how to place horses shrewdly, and a horse that wins nearly 1 in 3 at its preferred class and distance is exactly the kind that benefits from patient, experienced placing. Willowinghurn raced just one day ago, so it's very much in the thick of its season. At three, there's every reason to think the best is still ahead.