Mr Baloo

His recent form has been mixed, with a couple of quiet efforts bookending a solid run of placings, but his win at Lingfield Park just five weeks ago showed exactly what he is capable of. Hannon was openly proud of that victory, noting how Mr Baloo fought back after two rivals came past him late in the race — the kind of gritty, won't-lie-down effort that separates the tough horses from the ones who quietly accept defeat. That competitive streak is part of what has made him so productive over time.

The numbers point to a horse who knows what he likes. On normal ground conditions he has won 5 of 14 races — that's 1 in every 3, a remarkable hit rate. His best distance is 7 furlongs to a mile, where he has won 4 of 12 races. And at Wolverhampton specifically, he has won 2 of his 6 appearances, which sounds modest until you appreciate how hard it is to find any horse who consistently fires on demand at a specific track. Wolverhampton is a good venue to keep in mind whenever Mr Baloo turns up there.

His partnership with jockey Joe Leavy is one of the most striking aspects of his career. Together they have won 5 from 13 — that is 38%, closer to 2 in every 5 races. In practical terms, whenever you see Leavy in the saddle, the chances of Mr Baloo winning jump sharply. The combination clearly works.

Hannon's yard has sent out 118 winners this season alone, so this is a busy, serious operation — and Mr Baloo has earned his place in it. He raced as recently as yesterday and, according to his trainer, he is not finished yet. At five years old and with nine career wins already banked, there is every reason to believe him.