Homeland

At four years old, Homeland is still finding its feet. The horse competes most often over a mile and a furlong to a mile and two furlongs, and that is where its best form has come — winning 1 from 9 races at those distances, which works out at around 11%. The races it targets tend to be Class 6 events, the entry-level tier of British racing, where it has won 1 from 11 attempts. That tells you this is a horse operating at the grassroots end of the sport, but also one that has found even that level competitive.

Connor Beasley has been the regular partner in the saddle, riding Homeland in 9 of its 16 races and steering it to that sole win. Their combined record of 1 win from 9 races together is modest, but there is clearly a working relationship there. Faulkner's yard has been in decent form this season, sending out 16 winners, so the infrastructure is in place for horses like Homeland to find another moment.

The recent run of results — finishing 5th, 9th, 7th, 6th, 5th, and 3rd in the last six races — actually shows a horse that is creeping back toward the frame. That third-place finish is the most recent result, just one day ago, which means Homeland is fit, active, and close to competitive. The win at Ripon came 10 months ago now, and another has not yet followed, but a horse that finished third yesterday is hardly one to write off. Whether it can find that winning position again is the question — but the signs of late suggest it is at least asking it.