Silver Gale

The fact that Silver Gale has not won in any of its six most recent races will test the patience of even the most optimistic supporter. At Class 4 level — the mid-tier of British racing, solid without being glamorous — it has run three times without winning once. That is not a catastrophic record at this stage, but it does suggest a horse that is competitive enough to place without yet having the finishing kick to win. The 2-3 in that recent form is encouraging; second and third place finishes mean it is mixing it with the right horses, just not finding that extra gear when it matters most.

Trainer Katy Price operates out of Llanigon in Herefordshire, a small yard that has quietly sent out six winners this season — which for a relatively modest operation is a decent return and suggests Price knows how to place her horses and get them to perform. Silver Gale raced just yesterday, meaning it is bang in form and being kept active, which is often a sign that the yard — sorry, that the yard — believes there is a race to be won somewhere on the horizon. Whether Silver Gale can finally deliver that breakthrough is the question. The ingredients are there: improving form, an active campaign, and a trainer finding winners. Sometimes a horse just needs the right day.