Runninsonofagun

That said, "doesn't win much" isn't the same as "isn't trying." Eight places from those 18 races means Runninsonofagun has been competitive far more often than its solitary win suggests. Recent form backs that up — in its last six races before a five-month break, it posted finishes of 4th, a non-completion, 8th, 3rd, 2nd, and 3rd. The 2nd and two 3rds in particular suggest a horse that can get into a race and threaten, even if the winning post keeps arriving a stride or two too soon.

The distance sweet spot appears to be around a mile and a furlong to a mile and two furlongs. That's where it has done all of its best work, going 1 win from 11 races at those trips — which sounds modest until you consider that its single career win came right there. At the level it typically competes at — Class 5, the bread-and-butter races — it has actually drawn a blank in 5 attempts, which is a slightly curious detail. Its one win came in different company, which hints that Runninsonofagun might just be one of those horses who needs the exact right setup to produce its best.

Jockey Rowan Scott has partnered the horse seven times without a win between them, though given the horse's overall record, that's not entirely surprising. Trainer Tristan Davidson operates out of Irthington in Cumbria and has sent out 21 winners this season, so there's clearly ability in the yard. The fact that Davidson keeps running this horse suggests there's belief that the right race is still out there.

Now returning from a break of around five months, Runninsonofagun heads into its next race as one of those horses whose supporters always feel the win is just around the corner. On the evidence so far, it might be — though they've been saying that for a while.