The Last Drop

The recent form figures — 8-5-4-6-7-4 — paint a picture of a horse that has been knocking around the middle of the field rather than threatening the sharp end. Those two fourth-place finishes show it can get into the conversation, but the eighths and sevenths suggest that on its worst days it's just making up the numbers. It raced just yesterday, so at least fitness isn't in question.

Jockey Finn Lambert has had nine chances aboard The Last Drop and they've yet to click into gear together, which is a long run without a breakthrough for any partnership. Richard Phillips, who trains the horse from his yard in Adlestrop in Gloucestershire, has sent out three winners this season, so the operation clearly knows how to find the winner's circle — The Last Drop just hasn't been the one to provide it. The horse almost exclusively runs at Class 5 level, which is the entry-level tier of British racing, the place where horses come to find their level. Going 0 from 7 at that grade suggests that even at the bottom rung, winning has proved one step too far.

There's a version of this story that ends with a breakthrough — the right day, the right race, a bit of luck in running — but The Last Drop will need to find something it hasn't shown yet to write that chapter.