Dublin To Milan

The recent form makes for difficult reading. In the last six races, Dublin To Milan has finished 11th twice, been pulled up or unseated on three occasions, and managed a runner-up finish as its one bright spot. That second place is genuinely the thread of encouragement the team at Clive Boultbee-Brooks's yard in Woolhope, Herefordshire will be clinging to — proof that there is something there, even if it rarely shows up on the day.

Jockey Richard Patrick has been the regular partner, riding the horse in 6 of those races together, but that combination is yet to find the winner's enclosure. At Class 4 — a mid-to-lower tier of British racing — Dublin To Milan has raced four times and drawn a blank in all of them. When a horse cannot win at that level, it does raise honest questions about where the opportunity might come from.

Boultbee-Brooks has had nine winners from his yard this season, so the training operation is clearly capable of getting horses to win. Dublin To Milan, raced as recently as yesterday and therefore very much active, remains the puzzle that hasn't been solved. At seven, it isn't ancient, but time is not endlessly on its side either. For now, it is a horse that keeps showing up — and the team will be hoping one day the racing gods decide that's enough to deserve a reward.