Demetris Mouflon

What makes the situation a little more pointed is where these races have been happening. Class 5 is the entry-level tier of British racing — the place where horses who haven't yet proved themselves go to find their feet. Demetris Mouflon has run three times at that level and is still looking for a first win, which suggests it is finding things difficult even at the most accessible end of the game. Whether that changes with more experience, a different track, or a particular set of conditions remains to be seen.

On the positive side, the horse is trained by Rod Millman at his yard in Kentisbeare, Devon — and that yard is in good form right now, having sent out 42 winners already this season. When a trainer is operating at that kind of volume, they tend to know which horses are ready to run and when. The fact that Demetris Mouflon ran just one day ago suggests the team still believes there is something worth chasing here. Millman's horses do not get entered just to make up the numbers when the yard is firing like this — so there may be more confidence behind the scenes than the bare record suggests. The first win, when it comes, will have been a long time coming.