Fairlawn Skipper

What makes him worth watching is his recent calendar. He won at Cartmel six weeks ago, and his form over his last six races shows a placing sandwiched between two runs out of the frame—the sort of pattern that suggests he is not losing his edge. He raced just yesterday, so he is actively being trained and brought to the track on a regular schedule. His trainer, Mickey Bowen, runs a busy yard out of Haverfordwest in Pembrokeshire that has saddled 52 winners this season alone, so Fairlawn Skipper is part of an operation that knows how to win races.

The one soft spot is his record at the top level. Fairlawn Skipper has never won a Class 4 race, having tried five times without success at that grade. Class 4 is the bread and butter of British racing—solid, competitive company—and he has not managed to break through there yet. His wins have come at lower classes, and that may be where his ceiling lies. Still, a horse that wins races and competes regularly has value, especially one in the hands of a trainer sending out winners at Bowen's clip.