Atlanta Brave

Both of those wins came in quick succession in early 2023 — first at Chepstow in January, then at Hereford just three weeks later. Since that second victory, now 39 months ago, Atlanta Brave has not won again. Recent form reads 9-3-5-8 in the last four completed races, which tells a familiar tale: close enough to be competitive on occasions, but not quite able to get back to the winner's enclosure. The two blank results before that suggest a period off the track entirely, which may partly explain the dip.

What does give the team at Kerry Lee's yard in Byton some reason for optimism is the ground. Atlanta Brave clearly comes alive in wet or muddy conditions, winning 2 of its 8 races on that type of surface — a win rate of 25%, or 1 in every 4. That is a significant jump from its overall record and suggests that when the rain arrives, this horse becomes a different proposition. Lee's yard has sent out 12 winners already this season, so the operation is clearly in good form, and regular partner Richard Patrick — who has won 2 of their 11 races together, roughly 1 in every 5 — knows this horse well.

The sticking point is class. Atlanta Brave has raced nine times at Class 3 level — one step below the very top races in Britain — and has not won once from those nine attempts. That is a hard number to overlook. The two wins both came at a lower level, and it raises the genuine question of whether dropping back down in grade might be the key to unlocking another win. Racing yesterday means Atlanta Brave is very much in the thick of things right now, and with the right conditions underfoot, a return to form is not out of the question.