Park Annonciade

The ground matters enormously to this horse. On slightly soft, damp turf, it has won 3 of 10 races — that's 30%, or nearly 1 in 3. Compare that to its record at Class 3 level, where it has run 9 times without winning once. That contrast is striking. It seems to find its best form not necessarily when the class drops, but when the conditions suit — give it a bit of softness underfoot and it becomes a genuinely different horse.

Recent form has been excellent. In its last six races, it has finished second, second, first, second, third, and — with one run unplaced — it has been placing or winning with real consistency. That most recent win came at Huntingdon just six weeks ago, so this is a horse in form right now, not one living off old glories.

Jockey Daryl Jacob has clearly built a good understanding with it. The pair have raced together six times and won twice — a win rate of 33%, or 1 in every 3 rides. That is a genuinely strong return and suggests Jacob knows how to get the best from this horse. Trainer Sarah Humphrey, based in West Wratting in Cambridgeshire, has had 8 winners already this season. It's a yard that clearly knows what it's doing, and Park Annonciade looks like one of its sharper tools.

Eight years old and still running into form — that is the most interesting thing about this horse. Racing tends to favour the young, and most horses have long since shown their ceiling by this stage. Park Annonciade is still winning, still placing, and apparently still improving on the right ground. That deserves a bit of respect.