The most encouraging detail is the trajectory. Last year his win rate sat at around 3%, and it has now nudged up to 5% this season. That might not sound dramatic, but for a yard at this stage of its development, consistent improvement matters more than eye-catching numbers. Small stables often take several years to find their rhythm, and Hoad appears to be on that curve.
One area where his runners genuinely seem to come alive is on fast, dry ground — one win from just four attempts in those conditions gives him a win rate of 25%, or 1 in every 4 races. That is a striking contrast to his overall figures and suggests he has at least one horse, possibly more, that is well suited to a quicker surface. It is the kind of pattern worth watching as the drier months arrive.
The one partnership that has so far failed to click is with jockey Henry Tudor. Eight races together and no winners yet — that is a combination that has had its chances but not found the winner's enclosure. Whether that changes as Hoad's horses improve or a better opportunity comes along, it remains a partnership still waiting for its moment.
Four years in, one winner from 21 runners this season is a reminder that training racehorses at this level is genuinely hard work, with slim margins and a lot of patience required. Hoad is still in the early chapters, and the small upward shift in his numbers suggests someone learning and adapting rather than standing still.
| Course | Races | Wins | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lingfield Park | 9 | 0 | 0% |
| Brighton | 5 | 0 | 0% |
| Windsor | 2 | 1 | 50% |
| Fontwell Park | 1 | 0 | 0% |
| Great Yarmouth | 1 | 0 | 0% |
| Kempton Park | 1 | 0 | 0% |
| chelmsford | 1 | 0 | 0% |
| Southwell | 1 | 0 | 0% |