Sonny Fella

The recent form tells its own story. Of the last six races, three have produced finishing positions — eighth, fifteenth, and eighth again — while the other three were non-completions. That middle result, a fifteenth, is the kind of run that raises serious questions about whether competitive racing is the right stage for this horse at this point in its life.

Jockey Jody McGarvey has stuck with Sonny Fella through six of those races together and is still waiting for a first win from the partnership — a record of zero from six that mirrors the horse's overall career perfectly. Trainer Adrian Sexton, based in Athy, Co Kildare, has managed two winners from his yard this season, so the operation is capable of getting horses into the winner's enclosure. Sonny Fella, though, has not been among them. What is notable is that the horse raced just one day ago, so Sexton clearly has not given up — there is still belief somewhere in the team that a different result is possible. Whether that faith is rewarded remains to be seen, but after fourteen races without a single placed finish, it would take a brave person to bet on it.