E Soppitt's kennel has been in outstanding form over the last three months. From 20 runners, eight have won and five more have placed, giving a win rate of 40% and a combined win-and-place rate of 65%. Those are elite numbers by any standard, and they speak to a trainer who's placing dogs in the right races at the right time.
What makes the run particularly notable is the consistency. This isn't a case of one or two dogs carrying the stats. Soppitt's operation is ticking over across the board, finding opportunities and exploiting them. When two-thirds of your runners are hitting the frame over a sustained period, it suggests preparation and race-selection are both working.
Tonight, Soppitt sends out Ballymac Buddy (trap 3) in the 20:36 OR1 at Newcastle over 480 metres. It's a tough ask at open level, but given the trainer's current strike rate, any runner from this yard deserves respect. The OR1 grade means Buddy will be up against quality opposition, but Soppitt's record suggests the dog wouldn't be there unless there was a reason to think he could compete.