Stole My Heart

What keeps the story alive is that Stole My Heart raced just one day ago, so this is very much a horse still in active campaigning. Trainer David Evans, based at Pandy in Monmouthshire, clearly believes there is something worth persisting with, and his judgement carries some weight — his yard has sent out 37 winners already this season, which tells you this is not an outfit that runs horses simply to make up the numbers. When Evans puts a horse on the track, he generally has a reason.

The question now is whether a change of conditions, a drop in the level of competition, or simply more time and experience can unlock something in this horse. At three years old, Stole My Heart is still relatively young and learning the job. Some horses of this age take longer than others to find their feet. The fact that the team keeps finding races for it suggests they have not given up on finding the right opportunity. Whether that optimism is rewarded remains to be seen.