Feet On The Ground

The recent form makes for familiar reading. In its last six outings, Feet On The Ground has posted two runner-up finishes, a fourth, and a tenth, with two blank efforts mixed in. That pair of seconds is encouraging in one sense — it shows the horse can still get itself into a race — but at eight years old, with no wins from 12 attempts, the pattern is hard to ignore. Being placed is fine; being placed repeatedly without converting is a story in itself.

Jonathan Burke has been the regular jockey, riding Feet On The Ground seven times without a win between them. That is not necessarily a reflection on either horse or rider — some partnerships simply never find the right moment — but seven attempts is a meaningful sample. Meanwhile, the horse typically competes at Class 5, which represents the lower end of the racing ladder in Britain. Even at that level, it has drawn a blank in all six of those races.

The one genuinely bright element in this picture is the yard behind the horse. Trainer Fergal O'Brien, based in Gloucestershire, has sent out 90 winners already this season, which is a serious number — it marks him out as one of the more productive trainers currently operating. He clearly knows how to get horses winning. The fact that Feet On The Ground remains a maiden in his care is not a criticism of the training; some horses simply take longer, or need a very specific set of circumstances to click. Feet On The Ground raced just one day ago, so the team is clearly keeping it active and looking for an opportunity. Whether that opportunity arrives remains the question it has been asking for twelve races now.