Flying Frontier

The trainer James Tate, based in Newmarket, has been working with the philosophy that ground conditions matter enormously for this horse. Flying Frontier's record bears this out: when the going is normal and dry, he wins roughly half his races—three wins from six starts on such ground. Tate has been openly enthusiastic about the horse's prospects, noting that Flying Frontier showed real class in his Sandown victory and has a genuine affection for the track itself. The stable's plan is to give him targeted opportunities: a valuable mile-and-a-quarter race at Yarmouth is on the agenda, along with another Class 2 contest at Sandown in August. There is even talk of stretching him over a furlong further, which suggests the trainer believes there may be another level to unlock.

The puzzle is his recent form. Flying Frontier hasn't won in his last six races, most recently finishing seventh, though he has picked up places in that run—fourth place finishes suggest he remains competitive. At six years old, he is hardly washed up, and with the right conditions and course, he has shown he can still win at a decent level. For a horse that thrives on normal ground and loves Sandown, the next few months will tell whether he can string together another winning run.