What a season for La Pulga!

It’s not often you have the pleasure of being involved with a horse as consistent as La Pulga, so it’s been a real treat to follow him this year in 2024.

He began the year at Newcastle (April 26, 2024), where he got his campaign off to the perfect start with a victory over a mile and a half. Ridden by apprentice jockey Archie Young, he showcased his battling qualities by fending off his three rivals.

Later in the summer, he strung together a trio of excellent placed efforts in the competitive Racing League series, where he was often sent off as an outsider in the market and consistently exceeded expectations. These performances highlighted his ability to compete against strong fields and that, ultimately, he was an improving horse.

La Pulga landed his second win of the season at Thirsk on September 7, 2024, when delivering a dominant performance in the Hambleton Cup over his favoured trip. Under the guidance of regular jockey Jason Hart, he pulled out more than his opponents in the straight and went on to score easily at the line.

Following that victory, he remained a model of consistency with two more second places at Newcastle and most recently at Southwell on his thirteenth and final run of the year - and he is now heading on a thoroughly deserved winter break.

His record in 2024 reads exceptionally well with two wins, three seconds and three thirds - and, not only that, he is now rated a career high by Timeform on a mark of 99, which is 3lbs higher than his previous best. It’s not uncommon for horses to improve at the age of five and six, but La Pulga appears to be doing just that, so we head into 2025 with high hopes once again for this dude of a horse!