Witch Hunter

The most striking pattern in Witch Hunter's record is his dominance at Wolverhampton, where he has won two of four races—a 50% win rate that stands out sharply against his overall record. He also thrives on normal ground, winning four of 16 races (25%) when conditions are neither wet nor hard. Those specifics matter because racing is not a one-size-fits-all game; a horse that knows its preferred stage often outperforms its career average on it. Witch Hunter won his first race at Wolverhampton in February 2022 and has returned to exploit that track ever since. His two most recent victories have both come at Newcastle on the all-weather track in January and September 2025, suggesting he is not entirely confined to a single venue.

Hannon has made it plain that Witch Hunter's future lies in big handicaps—potentially at Royal Ascot, where the trainer believes the horse has the class to win if the race shapes right. The notes from his Ascot victory in June 2023 capture something of his character: ridden by Jamie Spencer, he was sent off at 100-to-1 and looked beaten from a long way out before rallying to win. Hannon has remarked that Witch Hunter gains momentum when passing other horses, and that he needs a ride that lets him travel smoothly into a race rather than one that asks him to lead early. Sean Levey, his most frequent partner, has ridden him 23 times and won three of those races (13%). The fact that Witch Hunter is still racing after seven years, and still capable of mixing with Class 2 company—he has won three of 25 races at that level—suggests there is genuine ability there, waiting for the right moment and the right conditions to shine.