Arctic Wind

The recent form reads 3-3-7-2-4, and what stands out is that Arctic Wind has been placing consistently at either end of that sequence, with that seventh-place run in the middle looking like the one blip in an otherwise respectable picture for a horse yet to win. Second and third finishes suggest a horse that gets itself into contention — the question is whether it can find that extra gear when it matters most.

The trainer is David Evans, based at Pandy in Monmouthshire, and his yard has sent out 37 winners already this season — a strong return that tells you this is an operation that knows how to get horses ready to win races. Arctic Wind is in capable hands, and the fact that Evans keeps running the horse frequently suggests the team believes a breakthrough is close. Sometimes a yard with this kind of firepower just needs to find the right race at the right moment, and a horse with three places from five runs is not one that lacks ability — it simply hasn't had luck, or the perfect conditions, fall its way yet.