Baltray

That one win came at Hereford back in November 2023 — now more than 30 months ago — and it wasn't a fluke. Emma Lavelle, who trains him from her yard in Ogbourne Maizey in Wiltshire, explained at the time that Baltray had arrived from Ireland looking a little light and was given time to fill out and settle. He repaid that patience by running an encouraging race on his first start over hurdles at Fontwell, then didn't need to improve much at all to win at Hereford, doing it comfortably. Lavelle noted that a mark of 112 — essentially the handicapper's assessment of how good he is — made him an interesting horse to place in the right races, and that he'd likely appreciate wetter, softer ground when it came.

Since that win, though, Baltray has gone six races without adding to his tally. His recent form reads 3rd, 5th, 5th, a run that didn't result in a finishing position, then 2nd and 6th — so there are signs of life in there, particularly that second place, but nothing that has translated into a winner's enclosure visit. He raced just yesterday, which tells you the team are keeping him busy and looking for the right opportunity.

Lavelle's yard has been in fine form this season, sending out 47 winners, so Baltray is operating within a capable operation. The question now is whether the right conditions — a soft, testing surface that suits him and a race where the handicapper's number works in his favour — can unlock another win before too much more time passes. He's shown he can do it. He just needs the stars to align again.