The most telling detail about Woven is his dependence on wet ground. On soft or muddy terrain, he wins about 1 in every 7 races (2 from 14), nearly double his overall rate. When trainer Michael Dods, based at Piercebridge in County Durham, saw him win at Doncaster on soft ground in May 2023, he knew exactly what the horse needed: cut underfoot. Woven obliged with another victory at Ayr last October after 12 months without a win, but that success came at a cost. Carrying 10st 2lb around Ayr on the back of a higher handicap mark proved a bridge too far. Dods recognised the problem plainly: the handicapper had wound up the weight, pushing Woven from a winning mark of 83 to 88. At that level, even on ground he loves, he cannot find his way to the front.
Woven raced just a day ago and remains active. Connor Beasley, his most frequent rider, has partnered him 12 times without a win—a partnership that suggests either the horse runs best with a different jockey or that Beasley has been aboard during tougher assignments. His last six races have brought no winners, only a second place at his most recent outing. For a horse of his age and record, Woven appears to be at the stage where favourable ground and a drop in the handicap matter more than ever. When both align, brief glimpses of his ability still show through.
| Course | Races | Results | Last run | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ayr Galloping |
12 | 1 win, 2 seconds, 9 other | 29 Sep | 8.3% |
| Doncaster Galloping |
9 | 1 win, 2 seconds, 2 thirds, 4 other | 29 Mar | 11.1% |
| Haydock Park Galloping |
7 | 1 win, 1 second, 5 other | 4 Sep | 14.3% |
| York Galloping |
7 | 1 second, 6 other | 13 Jun | 0% |
| Thirsk Galloping |
3 | 3 other | 6 Sep | 0% |
| Newmarket Galloping |
1 | 1 other | 17 Apr | 0% |
| Redcar Galloping |
1 | 1 second | 18 Apr | 0% |
| Newbury Galloping |
1 | 1 other | 24 Oct | 0% |
| Ascot Galloping |
1 | 1 other | 1 Oct | 0% |
| Pontefract Undulating |
1 | 1 other | 9 Jul | 0% |