Yes Day

Yes Day's most recent win came at Exeter in March 2025, and there has been a 16-month gap since then without a victory — though the last six runs tell a more complicated story than simple underperformance. The trainer, Jonjo O'Neill, has pointed out that the horse very likely would have won on its comeback at Ludlow had it not fallen four fences from the finish, and was simply outpaced at Wetherby after that. Those aren't excuses so much as explanations, and they suggest a horse whose actual level of ability is slightly better than the bare numbers imply. That said, the trainer was candid after a recent run at Hereford, describing the race as a poor one and saying there were no firm plans going forward — which speaks to an honest appraisal of where the horse currently stands.

The partnership with jockey Jonjo O'Neill Jr has been the consistent thread through Yes Day's career, the pair having teamed up 16 times together for 1 win — winning just 1 in every 16 rides. That's a low return, though the trainer's comments suggest the horse has been unlucky rather than simply outclassed. The yard itself, based in Cheltenham, has had a productive season with 51 winners, so Yes Day sits within a stable that clearly knows how to place horses well. The trainer has flagged the regional nationals — long-distance staying races — as the likely target, provided the ground holds up at something better than wet or muddy. For a horse that has been around the block without ever quite breaking through to a higher level, finding the right race in the right conditions might just be the thing that gets Yes Day back into the winner's enclosure.