Turty Tree

What gives the story some optimism is the yard behind it. Andrew Balding's operation at Kingsclere in Hampshire has sent out 202 winners this season alone — that is not a stable that makes up the numbers, and horses in that kind of form environment tend to be placed carefully and given real chances. When a yard is firing at that volume, you trust they know when their horse is ready and where to aim it.

Turty Tree raced just yesterday, so there is clearly no shortage of enthusiasm from the team about keeping it active. The finishing positions have been remarkably consistent — 2, 3, 3, 4 reading back through the record — which paints a picture of a horse that travels well in races but has not yet found that extra gear when it matters most. Some horses just need the right race to click. With a trainer sending out winners at this rate, it would be no surprise if Turty Tree is soon adding a first win to that tidy collection of places.