I'm Dan Dare

What's encouraging, at least, is the recent trajectory. Working backwards through the last six races, the most recent effort was a fifth, but before that came a second-place finish — the sole placing on record — which suggests there is something there worth finding. The earlier efforts, including an eleventh, show the inconsistency that often comes with a young horse still learning its trade. I'm Dan Dare raced just yesterday, so the yard are clearly keeping busy with it and haven't given up on unlocking a win.

At Class 5, which is the entry-level tier of British racing, the horse has run three times without winning. That's a useful marker: if a horse can't get off the mark at the lowest level, it raises questions about whether it quite has the ability to win races at all, or whether it simply needs more time and the right opportunity. Trainer Adrian Nicholls, based at Sessay in North Yorkshire, has sent out 12 winners this season, so the yard clearly knows how to get horses winning. The fact that I'm Dan Dare hasn't joined that list yet is the outstanding puzzle.

At three years old, there is still time. Some horses take a while to put it all together, and a second place shows it can at least trouble the judge. The next few months will tell us whether that placing was a glimpse of things to come, or just one of those days.