Lee Edwards

The most encouraging thread in his recent record is his partnership with trainer Dave Roberts. Six wins from 31 rides together — roughly 1 in every 5 — is a genuinely strong number, and well above Edwards's overall average. That kind of chemistry between a jockey and a yard matters enormously in racing: when a trainer keeps putting you on horses and you keep delivering, it creates a momentum that can carry a career forward. If Edwards is going to arrest his dip in form, leaning into that relationship seems like the most obvious route back.

There's also something quietly interesting about how he performs when the ground turns wet and heavy. Two wins from just 7 races on genuinely muddy ground gives him a win rate of 29% in those conditions — nearly 1 in 3 — which is a striking number by any measure. Most jockeys show little variation based on the weather, so a figure like that suggests Edwards either has a natural feel for riding on a slippery surface, or has simply been placed on horses well-suited to the mud. Either way, it's a calling card worth paying attention to when the autumn rain arrives.

At 70 career winners in four years, Edwards is a jockey in the building phase — experienced enough to be trusted with decent horses, but still working to establish himself as a go-to name for trainers across the board. The dip this season is the main question mark hanging over him right now. Whether it reflects a run of bad luck, fewer opportunities on quality horses, or something in his riding that needs addressing, only the next few months will really tell. The talent and the track record are there. The task now is to prove this season is a blip rather than a trend.