Lethal Blast

The recent form tells a similar story. In its last six races, Lethal Blast has managed a fourth and a third, with two runs not resulting in a finish at all — those dashes in the form suggest exits before the race was done. A third place is encouraging in isolation, but surrounded by that level of inconsistency, it is difficult to build a case for a breakthrough. The horse raced just one day ago, so it is clearly still being asked the question.

Jockey Kieran O'Neill has partnered Lethal Blast more than anyone, taking the ride in five of its races — and the pair are yet to win together. That is not necessarily O'Neill's doing; some horses simply make life difficult for whoever is in the saddle. Trainer Andy Irvine, based in Ashurstwood in East Sussex, has sent out four winners this season, so the yard clearly knows how to get horses across the line. The puzzle is why Lethal Blast has not been one of them.

Almost all of its racing has come at Class 5, which is the entry level of British racing — the races designed to give horses like this a realistic chance of winning. Even at that level, Lethal Blast has drawn a blank in six attempts. That is the detail that makes this record genuinely difficult to spin. Class 5 is where a horse ought to be competitive, and a zero from six record there suggests the horse may simply be finding its feet at a level where winning remains elusive. Whether that changes anytime soon is the question Irvine and the team will be quietly hoping the next run answers.