Defying Gravity

The recent form tells an interesting story, though, and not an entirely discouraging one. Reading from oldest to most recent — 14th, 12th, 10th, 5th, 3rd, 2nd — there is an unmistakable upward curve. This is a horse that was getting thoroughly beaten not long ago and is now finishing right on the heels of the winner. That kind of improvement, sustained across six consecutive races, is exactly what a trainer wants to see. Andrew Hamilton's yard has sent out three winners already this season, so there is clearly some form in the operation, and a horse trending this sharply in the right direction will be high on the list of those expected to add to that tally soon.

At Class 4 level — the middle tier of British racing, where solid but unspectacular horses tend to compete — Defying Gravity has run three times without winning. But given that the overall trajectory suggests a horse finally hitting its stride at six, it would be no great surprise if that record changed in the near future. The horse raced just one day ago, so the yard will be watching closely for any signs of fatigue, but the momentum coming into that run was strong.

The honest summary is this: Defying Gravity has never won, but it has arguably never been closer to doing so. A horse that finishes second after a sequence of finishes that looked hopeless a handful of races ago is a horse worth watching. The name might be tempting fate — but right now, the form is quietly building a case.