W H Easterby

The standout story so far is the partnership with Bellaney Lord, a horse that has won two of the three races they have run together. That is not just a good record — it is the kind of horse-and-trainer chemistry that experienced racing fans spend years waiting to see develop. When a relatively young operation finds a horse it clearly understands, the results tend to follow quickly, and that is exactly what has happened here.

Three years in, the numbers are small but the percentage is hard to argue with. Whether Easterby can maintain this kind of win rate as the stable grows and takes on more runners will be the real test, but right now this is one of the more efficient small yards in training.