Morning Air

That said, there are one or two reasons not to write Morning Air off entirely. Over longer trips — between a mile and six furlongs and two miles — it has won 1 from 3 races, which works out at winning roughly one in every three, a noticeably better record than its overall numbers suggest. The implication is that stamina is where this horse has its best chance, and the yard would be wise to keep it over those distances. At Class 4 level, which is the mid-tier of British racing, the record reads the same: 1 win from 3 races, so it is operating at roughly the right grade.

The trainer is Venetia Williams, one of the most respected names in jump racing, based at Kings Caple in Herefordshire. Her yard has sent out 16 winners already this season, so the operation around Morning Air is clearly functioning well — the horse just needs to find its form. Raced as recently as yesterday, Morning Air is very much an active runner, and with the right conditions over a suitable trip, another day like Leicester in December 2024 is not out of the question — even if it has felt a long time coming.