Fear And Fast

The most recent run came just yesterday, which tells you this is a horse that's kept busy and presumably well in itself. Looking at the last six races, there's a second place in there, which is the nearest Fear And Fast has come to winning, surrounded by a string of mid-pack finishes. The pattern is frustratingly consistent: competitive enough to be in the conversation, not quite good enough to win it.

Fear And Fast competes almost exclusively at Class 6, which is the entry level of British racing — the kind of races designed for horses that struggle to win at higher grades. And yet, even here, the record reads zero wins from eight attempts. That is the most honest summary of where things stand: this is a horse that has found its level and is still finding that level hard.

The trainer is Jim Goldie, who runs a busy and productive yard out of Uplawmoor in Lanarkshire. Goldie's team has sent out 88 winners this season, which is a substantial tally and speaks to a trainer who clearly knows how to get horses fit and ready to perform. The puzzle, then, is why Fear And Fast hasn't been able to convert. It isn't for lack of professional handling.

There's something almost admirable about a horse that keeps turning up — 17 races, not a single win, and back racing again yesterday. Whether that breakthrough ever comes is the open question. At four years old, there's still time, but the clock is ticking and the record so far suggests it will take something to change before Fear And Fast finally gets its nose in front.