Klapton Boy

What makes the picture harder to read is the consistency of those mid-to-back-of-the-field finishes. This is not a horse who threatens and fades, or who gets unlucky in tight finishes — the sixes in his recent form suggest he is finding his level, and right now that level is a little short of what is needed to get his head in front. He raced just yesterday, so he is clearly fit and active, and his trainer Nick Kent at Brigg in Lincolnshire has not given up on finding the right opportunity. Kent's yard has sent out one winner this season, so this is a small, quietly operating outfit rather than a powerhouse stable, which means every outing counts and patience is part of the job.

At six years old, Klapton Boy is no longer a youngster learning his trade. The hope now is that the right race, on the right day, finally unlocks something that eight attempts have not yet revealed.