Bellesque

The numbers themselves are modest: one win and three places from four races means Bellesque wins roughly 1 in every 4 races and has finished in the frame in all four outings. That's a clean sheet without a down-the-field finish, which is something. It was raced just yesterday, so this is a horse actively being prepared for something, not one being nursed along or given an easy time. Joseph Patrick O'Brien, training from Owning Hill in Co Kilkenny, clearly thinks there is enough here to keep running. His yard sent out 160 winners already this season, so it is no small operation, and horses here get genuine opportunities at the track. Bellesque may not yet be burning up the form book, but a young horse that wins races and consistently places — without ever running badly — is worth keeping an eye on as it develops.