My Dad Tom

The recent form makes for tough reading. Six of the last six runs have returned finishes of sixth or worse, with only one fourth place offering a hint of better things in the last half-dozen outings. Racing just yesterday, this is a horse that is out there regularly and giving its the yard every chance to find the right opportunity — but so far, the pieces have not fallen into place.

What makes the situation interesting is the yard it comes from. Richard Hannon, based in Wiltshire, is one of the most active and successful training operations in Britain, having sent out 118 winners already this season. That is a formidable production line, and horses from that yard generally have every advantage in terms of preparation and opportunity. My Dad Tom has typically been competing at Class 5, which is the entry level of British racing — the races designed for horses that need a straightforward opportunity rather than a stiff test. Despite running four times at that level, the win column remains empty. When a horse cannot convert at the softest end of the scale, it raises genuine questions about what kind of race, if any, will finally suit.

For now, My Dad Tom is a horse that fans of persistence might warm to. Eleven races is a meaningful sample, and the team clearly believe there is a performance in there somewhere. Whether they are right remains to be seen.