Padua

His trainer, Hughie Morrison, based at East Ilsley in Berkshire, clearly sees something worth persisting with. Morrison's stable has sent out 20 winners this season, so the yard is firing on all cylinders, and the trainer's notes suggest Padua has run some respectable races in defeat — he was nearly caught out on his debut at Lingfield in November when sent off at 125-1, and ran a solid effort at Kempton in April behind a decent opponent. The issue, Morrison hints, is patience and placement rather than lack of ability. Padua races best over 7 furlongs to a mile, and at that trip he has won one of five races (a 20% win rate), which is noticeably sharper than his overall record. For a horse still seeking to prove himself at four years old, that window of opportunity at the right distance and the right race is crucial.

With his last run just over a day ago, Padua is still an active member of the stable and clearly has Morrison's backing to find another winning opportunity. The ground conditions, as his trainer notes, may yet be the key — sometimes a horse needs the right conditions to click into place. At this level and with this record, he remains a work in progress, but the foundation is there if the yard can time it right.