David Menuisier

The autumn of 2024 was a particularly sharp reminder of what Menuisier is capable of. Three top-level wins in the space of a fortnight — at Newmarket on 27 September, Newmarket again on 5 October, and Bath on 10 October — suggested a trainer who had his horses peaking at exactly the right moment. Newmarket and Sandown Park are two of the most prestigious venues in the British calendar, and landing winners at both, along with Bath, shows a range that not every yard can claim. Eighty-six career winners in four years is a solid foundation, and the top-level haul gives it real weight.

His most compelling story in recent times has been the partnership with City Of Delight — a horse that has won 6 of 19 races under Menuisier's care. That's a win rate of roughly 1 in every 3, which is extraordinary by any measure. When trainer and horse click like that, it tends to be because the trainer genuinely understands what the horse needs, when it needs it, and where to place it. Six wins from 19 together is not luck; it's management.

On the jockey front, Menuisier's most productive combination this season has been with Rossa Ryan, who has ridden 5 winners from 23 rides for the yard — winning roughly 1 in every 5, a strong return that suggests a real working relationship rather than a casual booking.

The one honest note to add: this season's overall numbers show a slight dip. Last year Menuisier's yard was winning at 15%, or about 1 in every 7 races. This year that's slipped to 11% — 25 winners from 236 runners, roughly 1 in every 9. That's still a competitive return, but it's a number worth watching. One area where the yard continues to thrive is on wet or muddy ground, where they've won 5 from 21 races — nearly 1 in every 4 — suggesting Menuisier reads a soft forecast and acts on it. Four years in, with six top-level wins already banked, the bigger question isn't whether he belongs at this level. It's how many more of those big days are coming.