Mars Harper

The wins have come slowly and at long intervals. His first arrived at Downpatrick in October 2021, and his most recent at Listowel in September 2023 — now 32 months ago. The gap matters. A horse who last won nearly three years ago is one the sport has largely caught up with, and Humphrey has acknowledged as much, suggesting Mars Harper may need to drop into slightly easier company before another win comes. He has tried his hand at the very top level on five occasions and drawn a blank every time, which is no disgrace — those are the hardest races in Britain to win — but it does tell you something about where his ceiling sits.

What his the yard do know is what he needs to be at his best. Somewhere between two and a half and three miles is his sweet spot, and he is the kind of horse who handles any ground you put in front of him — wet, dry, or anything in between. That versatility is genuinely useful. Most horses have strong preferences; a horse who turns up and gets on with it regardless is easier to place and harder to make excuses for.

Jack Kennedy, who has ridden him 11 times, has won once from those rides — roughly 1 in every 11. That is modest, but when things have clicked, the results have been striking. After a win at Down Royal, Kennedy reported he had "plenty of horse" from the back of the last fence and was always in control — the kind of ride that suggests ability that does not always find its way into the result column. Recent form reads 2-6-6-13-3-11, which is patchy, but the third place in there keeps the flame alive. Humphrey's yard has sent out 8 winners this season, so there is form in the camp. Whether Mars Harper can add to his own tally is the question — but at 10 years old and still racing, he is clearly not done trying.