Northern Brave

His recent form tells a mixed story. Over his last six races he has had flashes of promise — a second place and two thirds among some forgettable runs, including a tenth and a seventh. He was out just yesterday, which means he remains an active horse in Michael Dods' Piercebridge yard. Dods, who is enjoying a productive season with 43 winners already, seems to be persisting with the horse despite the long drought since his October breakthrough. Northern Brave has shown enough in his placed efforts to suggest he is competitive at his current level, but he needs to rediscover the spark that won him that race at Ayr if he is to become a regular winner rather than a horse that flickers into the placings and then disappears again.