Aill Dubh

What makes this horse worth watching now is its recent form. In its last six races it has placed three times and won twice — that is a respectable win rate over a short run, suggesting some improvement or at least consistency. Raced just a day ago, Aill Dubh is still actively campaigned and competing regularly, which at nine years old is admirable in itself. The horse runs for trainer Micky Hammond's Middleham yard in North Yorkshire, one of the most respected training operations in British racing. Hammond's team has already sent out 31 winners this season, a sign of a busy, successful operation.

The caveat is that Aill Dubh has never won at the top level. In three races at Class 5, the highest grade it has attempted, it has failed to score. This suggests the horse is best suited to smaller meetings and less competitive races — which is no shame at all. Plenty of horses find their level at places like Cartmel and thrive there, and Aill Dubh appears to be one of them. For a horse of its age still hunting wins, that recent Cartmel victory feels significant.