Bamber

What makes the situation a little puzzling is the quality of the operation behind the horse. Trainer Alan King, based at Wroughton in Wiltshire, has sent out 57 winners already this season — a yard clearly capable of getting horses to perform. When a well-run stable has a horse that finishes in the bottom half of the field every time it races, it raises a fair question: is this simply a horse finding its ceiling, or one still waiting for the right opportunity? Bamber last raced 20 days ago, so whatever the answer is, the yard are still trying to find it.

At six years old, Bamber is no youngster still learning the ropes. Most horses at this age have a clearer sense of what they can and cannot do. The patient approach from the King yard suggests they believe there is something worth persisting with — but five blank runs is a tough argument to counter.