The 2025 Flat season has been a season of surprises, not only by the usual large stables that are on everybody's radar, but also by some names that generally remain out of the limelight. These trainers do not always feature on the cover of magazines, but their performance this year is loud enough to speak volumes. They have silently developed good shelf-clearings by being constant, placing smartly, and having a horse that keeps on making appearances.
Quiet Consistency Catching the Eye
Away from the biggest yards, punters searching for free AI horse racing tips have noticed the same names popping up again and again in the winners’ lists. Trainers who don’t have hundreds of horses in their care, yet manage to keep hitting the board.
Take T. J. Kent, for example. With his stable having 15 wins out of 67 runners to date this year, he is ranked at 22.4 percent strike rate, which ranks him as one of the six top trainers having more than 50 runners. That's not luck. Kent had six consecutive winners in March and April alone, a run that has punters squarely on their guard. Sponsoring all his runners to a level share would have been a tidy profit of PS50.55 - evidence that at times the value lies outside the largest yards. His horse Erzindjan has proved quite a constant and the horse has excelled in major handicaps as well as adding credence to the ever-increasing reputation of Kent.
Oldroyd’s Small Yard, Big Results
Then there is Geoff Oldroyd, who has managed to make 2025 one of his best years so far. He has already won with 52 runners and a 25 percent win rate, right behind such industry giants as Charlie Appleby and Paddy Twomey. The distinction is, Oldroyd is a much smaller player, and still, his horses are able to beat almost two-thirds (65.9%) of their competitors on average.
His horse Air Force One has been in the vanguard and has made a sharp improvement and determination throughout the season. The most notable thing is the frequency with which Oldroyd runners report on competitive efforts, even when they lose. It is the type of consistent shape that makes the bettors and the competitors respect it.
Goldie’s Runners Refuse to Slow Down
In Scotland, the action of Goldie has been impossible to overlook. The winner, who already has seven victories to his name, is the standout horse, Janna's Journey. Two of the same yard, Oriental Prince-Dwinding Funds, have six apiece, and Midnight Lion does not lag far behind with five.
It is the type of productivity that is talking about rhythm and timing races are selected, horses are kept happy and a team knows when to attack. The yard of Goldie might not shine as brightly as the finest outfits, but the work is done, and there can be no doubt of the quality of the work done behind the scenes.
Success Beyond the Spotlight
Put together, Kent, Oldroyd, and Goldie show that success in the Flat game isn’t limited to the biggest names. They’ve managed to post high strike rates, build profitable records, and shape storylines that deserve more attention. This year’s Flat season may be remembered for its major champions, but the steady rise of these three trainers is just as much a part of its story, the kind that racing fans will keep an eye on well into next season.
