Beau Jardine

The eight-year-old is trained by Rachel Cook and John Bridger at their yard in Liphook, Hampshire — a small operation that has punched out 7 winners this season, so they clearly know how to get a horse ready to run. When Shariq Mohd is in the saddle, things tend to go better: together they have won 2 of their 6 races, which works out at roughly 1 in every 3 — a remarkable number given how rarely Beau Jardine wins overall.

The conditions matter too. Put this horse on wet or muddy ground and it wins 2 from 6 races, or about 1 in 3. On quick, dry ground those numbers fall away sharply. Similarly, it does its best work over the shorter distances — 5 furlongs to 6 and a half furlongs — where it has won 2 of 17 races, around 1 in every 8. That is where the horse is most dangerous. Most of its racing has come at Class 6, the entry level of British racing, and both wins have come there too.

The honest part of the picture is this: Beau Jardine has not won in its last 6 races, with recent finishes of 8th, 5th, 7th, 7th, 6th, and 4th. It raced just yesterday and is still active. It is not the most naturally gifted horse in training, but it is durable, it is consistent enough to keep placing, and it has carved out a small but genuine niche. If you ever see Beau Jardine lining up at Salisbury, on a wet day, ridden by Shariq Mohd — that is the moment to pay attention.