Fiftyshadesaresdev

The recent form makes for interesting reading. A third and a second in runs five and six ago suggested something was stirring, but the last four efforts — finishing sixth, seventh, seventh, and tenth — tell a story of a horse that has drifted away from even those modest promises. That run to second place is the tantalising detail here: it proves this horse can get competitive, at least occasionally. The question is whether anyone can find the key to doing it more consistently.

Joanna Mason has partnered the horse more than anyone, riding it in 10 of its 36 races, but the two haven't managed to crack the code together — still zero wins from those 10 outings. That said, Mason is a talented rider who has won plenty aboard other horses, so this is less a reflection on her and more a sign of just how elusive that breakthrough moment has been. Trainer Micky Hammond, based at Middleham in North Yorkshire, has had a productive season with 24 winners from his yard, so it isn't as though the team lacks ability — Fiftyshadesaresdev simply hasn't been the one delivering the goods.

Most of its racing has come at Class 5 level, which sits near the bottom of the British racing ladder — essentially the races designed for horses that haven't shown enough to compete higher up. Fourteen races at that level and still no win is a tough record to look at, but it also means that if this horse ever does break through, it will be against a field of similarly modest performers. It raced just yesterday, so the yard are clearly keeping faith and keeping it busy. At seven years old, time is not exactly on its side — but stranger things have happened, and every race is another chance to rewrite the story.