Matthew J Smith

The most reliable relationship Smith has built so far is with jockey Robbie Colgan. Across 37 rides together, they have combined for 5 winners — wins in roughly 1 in every 7 races, or 14%. That might not sound dramatic, but in the context of a yard winning 1 in 14 overall, Colgan clearly gets the best out of these horses. When you see that combination listed in a racecard, it is worth paying attention. By contrast, the much-hyped partnership with Sarmiento Power has so far delivered just 1 win from 10 races together, a reminder that even promising combinations take time to click.

Where Smith does show a real edge is on normal ground conditions. When the track is riding at its standard best — not wet and heavy, not baked and fast — his horses win 4 from 19 races, or 21%, meaning roughly 1 in every 5. That is three times better than his overall rate, and it is the kind of stat that tells you something genuine: Smith's horses are conditioned and prepared for days when the ground gives them a fair surface to perform on. If you ever want to follow his runners, check the forecast first.

Four years in, 55 winners banked, and a clear identity starting to emerge — a yard that works hard for its results, rewards patient followers, and has a jockey in Colgan who brings out the best in the string. The overall numbers are modest for now, but the foundations are there. Trainers who win 1 in 5 races on their preferred ground do not stay at 7% overall forever.