His most-used jockey is Alan Doyle, who has partnered Duncan's horses on 33 occasions, producing 1 win between them. That's a thin return — just 3 in every 100 races — and suggests the pair are still searching for the combination that clicks, or that they're working with horses that are competitive without quite getting their noses in front.
The most intriguing subplot in Duncan's yard is his relationship with Coylton King. Eight races together and not a single win — yet the fact that the partnership keeps going says something. Trainers don't keep running a horse with the same rider eight times if they've given up hope. Something about this combination clearly appeals, even if the results haven't followed yet.
Where Duncan does find his best results is on normal ground conditions, winning 1 in every 5 races in those circumstances — 1 from 5, or 20%. That's double his overall win rate, which tells you his horses tend to perform at their most competitive when the ground is neither too soft nor too firm. It's a useful thing to know: if you see a Duncan runner declared on a dry, fair day, it's worth paying attention.
Still only four years into the job, Duncan is very much in the building phase. The numbers suggest a trainer who is learning his craft, placing his horses thoughtfully, and finding the occasional winner without yet having the firepower to dominate. The next year or two will be telling.
| Course | Races | Wins | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ayr | 37 | 2 | 5.4% |
| Hexham | 12 | 2 | 16.7% |
| Carlisle | 9 | 2 | 22.2% |
| Perth | 8 | 0 | 0% |
| Sedgefield | 6 | 0 | 0% |
| Kelso | 5 | 1 | 20% |
| Newcastle | 4 | 1 | 25% |
| Cartmel | 2 | 0 | 0% |
| Wetherby | 1 | 1 | 100% |
| Musselburgh | 1 | 0 | 0% |
| Haydock Park | 1 | 0 | 0% |