Blinky

The most encouraging sign is Blinky's record in Class 4 races, where it has won 3 of 15 starts. That 20% win rate is markedly better than its overall record and shows the horse can dominate at a certain level. Last March, Blinky won at Southwell, but that victory now sits 17 months in the past, and the recent form has been grim: the last six races brought nothing but defeats, with placings of 10th, 4th, 4th, 10th, 11th and 8th. That stretch suggests the horse may be struggling to find its feet at present levels or simply running out of luck.

Ground conditions appear to matter. On normal going, Blinky has won 2 of 12 races—a 17% win rate—which is notably better than its overall average and hints at a preference for standard conditions. The partnership with regular rider Cam Hardie has not yet clicked, yielding just 1 win from 10 races together, though that is a small sample. Trainer Antony Brittain's Warthill yard has been prolific this season with 23 winners already, so Blinky is in a yard with genuine form and momentum on its side. Still, with the horse currently active but winless for months, it will need to recapture something from earlier in its career to reverse the recent trend.