Oasis Sunrise

That sun appears to be literal. The horse absolutely thrives on very dry, fast ground, winning half its races when conditions are firm. Put Oasis Sunrise on wet or muddy terrain and the whole picture changes. This matters because it means there are probably days when Grace Harris's yard simply knows the horse is outmatched before it even walks into the paddock. The trainer, based at Shirenewton in Gwent, has sent out 31 winners this season, so she knows how to read her runners.

Bath has been good to this horse—two wins from nine races there suggests it has found something it likes about the track, the distance, or both. The recent form tells a familiar story: mostly places, with the odd flourish. A third place four runs back, another third two runs back, a fourth just over a month ago. The last win came at Leicester on 13 June, three months in the past now. Since then, Oasis Sunrise has turned up and finished out of the placings twice, which for a horse that usually finds money suggests the competition has tightened or the ground hasn't been right.

There's one curious footnote: Benoit De La Sayette, who rides the horse most often, hasn't managed a single win in five races together. Whether that's down to the pairings simply falling on tougher days, or whether a different jockey might spark something, is impossible to say. What's clear is that Oasis Sunrise remains an active racer, last out just a day ago, grinding away at Class 6 level where one win in 14 races is the hard reality of life. It's a horse that will keep you entertained without ever keeping you awake at night.