Great d'Ange

What makes Great d'Ange worth watching is his clear preference for normal ground. On standard racing conditions, he wins at a rate of roughly one in every five-and-a-half races — that 18% success rate stands out sharply against his overall 11% record. If conditions suit, particularly after heavy rain or when the surface hardens after dry spells, this horse becomes noticeably more dangerous. His connection with Tom Broughton, his most frequent rider, has never produced a victory across nine races together, which hints that a change of jockey or a run on the right ground might wake him up.

Trained by Alexander Gibbons at Broad Hinton in Wiltshire, Great d'Ange operates in the lower classes — he has won just one race from 15 attempts at Class 4 level. At 10 years old and with an income of £74,000 across his career, he is a steady, modest performer who has probably given his the yard decent days out without ever quite fulfilling his potential. He raced just a day ago, so he remains an active part of the yard's team, and if the yard back him in the right conditions — soft or heavy ground would suit him — there might yet be another win in the tank.