Sam England

One of the clearest signs of a well-run operation is a strong working relationship with a jockey, and England has that in spades with Jonathan England — almost certainly a family connection, though the statistics make the case regardless of the surname. Jonathan has ridden 141 times for the yard and come home in front on 23 of those occasions, a win rate of around 16%, or just under 1 in every 6 rides. When a trainer and jockey hit that kind of rhythm, it usually means they are thinking about races the same way — picking the right moments, the right tracks, the right conditions.

And speaking of conditions, England's record on wet or muddy ground is genuinely eye-catching. Two wins from just three races in those conditions gives him a two-in-three success rate — a small sample, yes, but the kind of number that makes you pay close attention when the weather turns and one of his horses is declared. Some yards quietly thrive when the ground gets testing, and England may well be one of them.

Thirsk is where England's local knowledge really shows. Four winners from just six runners at that track is a remarkable hit rate — winning two in every three races at a specific course is the kind of record that suggests something more than coincidence. Whether it is the track's layout suiting his horses, or simply that he picks his spots there carefully, Thirsk looks like happy hunting ground. For a trainer still only four years into the job, building that sort of course-specific expertise so quickly is a real sign of someone with a sharp eye for detail and a clear plan. The next few seasons will be worth watching closely.