The recent form tells an interesting tale. Reading right to left — which is how form works, oldest to newest — Tough Date finished sixth, then third, then second, then seventh, then tenth. That second place is the one to hold onto: it means the horse went very close to winning on at least one occasion, beaten by a single rival. The slide back to seventh and then tenth since then is harder to explain away, but horses can have off days just like anyone else, and at three years old this is still a young animal working things out.
What gives some cause for optimism is the yard behind it. Jack Channon, based at West Ilsley in Berkshire, has sent out 46 winners already this season — that is a serious training operation with real firepower. When a trainer of that volume keeps running a horse that hasn't won, it usually means they believe there's a win waiting to happen. Trainers don't waste entries on horses they've given up on.
Tough Date last raced just one day ago, so this is a snapshot of a horse very much mid-campaign. The question is whether it can rediscover the form that brought it within a whisker of winning, or whether that second place turns out to be the high-water mark of its career. With a bit of luck and the right race, it could go either way.
| Course | Races | Results | Last visited | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| chelmsford | 1 | 1 other | 12 Mar | 0% |
| Bath Undulating |
1 | 1 second | 17 Apr | 0% |
| Southwell Galloping |
1 | 1 third | 21 Mar | 0% |
| Windsor Sharp |
1 | 1 other | 4 May | 0% |
| Newbury Galloping |
1 | 1 other | 15 May | 0% |