Ghisa

Those two wins came in quick succession last autumn — first at Wolverhampton in September, then at Southwell in early October — which suggested a horse that had clicked into gear and was building momentum. Back-to-back wins like that rarely happen by accident. It tells you the horse was happy, confident, and probably improving with every run. The recent form figures of 7-8-7-1-1, read from right to left, show exactly that arc: two wins followed by three races where it trailed in seventh or eighth. That sequence matters. It means Ghisa has gone from a horse on the up to one that has been struggling for form, and the question hanging over everything is whether those autumn wins were the real Ghisa, or whether the more recent disappointments are.

The 58-day break since its last run is worth noting. That is a short rest rather than a serious layoff — enough time for a trainer to take stock, give the horse a breather, and come back with a plan. Charlie Fellowes has had a busy season at Newmarket, sending out 17 winners this term, so this is a yard operating with confidence. A trainer in that kind of form does not bring a horse back without believing there is more to come.

At just 3 years old, Ghisa is still at the stage where horses can improve dramatically from one month to the next. The talent was clearly there in September and October. Whether those two autumn wins turn out to be the foundation of something bigger, or a brief purple patch, is exactly what makes watching this horse's next run so interesting.