Bravais

That one win came at Tipperary on 24 April 2025, and it arrived at the distance that suits Bravais best: somewhere between seven furlongs and a mile. At that range, the record reads one win from five races — roughly 1 in 5, or 20% — which is a meaningful uptick from the overall 8% across the whole career (about 1 win in every 12 attempts). In racing terms, that gap is the difference between a horse that struggles and a horse that is simply being pointed at the wrong trips.

The recent form, however, is harder to spin. The last six results show finishes of second, seventh, fifth, tenth, eleventh, and eleventh — listed from oldest to most recent — which is a trajectory heading in the wrong direction. Whatever momentum came from that Tipperary victory has not translated into the kind of consistent placing that would suggest a horse on the up. At the same time, Bravais has banked four places from twelve career races, so it is not a horse that runs anonymously — it turns up, competes, and occasionally makes an impression.

Ian Williams, who trains Bravais from his yard in Portway, Worcestershire, has been in excellent form this season with 96 winners sent out — a strong tally that tells you this is a well-organised, competitive operation. Colin Keane, who rides Bravais most often, has a 20% win rate in the saddle together — one win from five rides — which mirrors that preferred-distance figure almost exactly and suggests the partnership works best when conditions align.

The one flag worth raising is the Class 2 record: four races at that level, zero wins. The very top tier of British racing has so far found Bravais out completely. Step back in grade, put the horse over the right distance, and there is clearly something there. Find the right spot, and another day like Tipperary in April is not out of the question.