Pillar The Poet

Trained by I Chanin out of a small yard in Tiverton, Devon — a part of the world not traditionally associated with racing powerhouses — Pillar The Poet represents the grassroots end of British racing. The yard has sent out just two winners this season, which gives you a sense of the scale of the operation. This is not a stable chasing headlines at the big festivals; it is a trainer working hard to get results with a limited string of horses, and every winner matters.

The recent form figures tell a modest story. Across the last six runs, Pillar The Poet has finished sixth twice, fifth once, second once, and pulled up or was pulled up on two occasions — the dashes in the form line indicating races where it did not complete or finish in a recorded position. The second place is the one bright spot, suggesting the ability is there on its day, even if converting that into a victory has so far proved elusive. Racing at Class 4 — the middle tier of British racing — it has gone 0 from 3 at that level, which means the competition it keeps facing is consistent and not particularly forgiving.

What is perhaps most notable is that Pillar The Poet raced just one day ago, so this is a horse very much in active training and still being asked to go and do a job. Patience is clearly not in short supply at the Tiverton yard. For a horse without a win to its name, continuing to run and compete is itself a statement of intent — and in a sport where the margins are fine and form can shift quickly, a first victory may not be as far away as the bare record suggests.