La Botte

That Newcastle win is the clearest signpost to what La Botte can do. At a distance of seven furlongs to a mile, this horse has won 1 from 3 races — a win rate of 33%, or roughly 1 in every 3 attempts. That is a meaningful contrast to its record elsewhere, and it tells you something useful: when conditions and distance align, La Botte is a different animal. A horse that wins a third of its races at a particular trip is not just getting lucky — it is genuinely at home.

The recent form figures — 7-14-4-2-4-1 — read right to left, so that win at Newcastle is where the sequence starts, followed by a second place and then a couple of fourth-place finishes, before the last two runs produced a 14th and a 7th. That drop-off in form after a career-best effort is not unusual; horses can take time to build on a breakthrough, and La Botte has raced just yesterday, meaning it is still very much in active competition. Eustace's yard has hit 24 winners this season, which suggests a yard in good form and capable of placing its horses well.

The question now is whether La Botte can rediscover the spark that lit up Newcastle. The talent is clearly there at the right distance, and with a trainer who knows how to find winning opportunities, the next step is simply putting it all together again. Worth watching when the trip looks right.