Giddyupadingdong

The record reads one win from four races, which is a 25% win rate — roughly 1 in every 4 — and decent enough on the face of it. But that win came 31 months ago, and injury has eaten up much of the time in between. He has only raced once since joining Mulholland's yard, which tells you the team has been patient rather than rushing him back. The recent form figures of 4-8 before that blank spell suggest he found life tougher when he did run, though a return to form is clearly what the yard is hoping for.

What works in his favour is that Mulholland's operation is in good health — 60 winners already this season, which is a serious number for a yard of this type and suggests horses leaving Limpley Stoke are arriving at the track ready to run. Mulholland himself has spoken warmly about Giddyupadingdong's current condition, describing him as being in good form right now. With a race just one day ago, the horse is very much in active training, and the team clearly feels the time is right to find out what he can do.

Whether he can rediscover the spark that produced that Huntingdon win remains the question. But the combination of a fit, well-regarded yard and a horse who has at least proven he knows how to win makes him worth watching.