Velozee

The most recent form — third, third, third, eighth, fourth, win — is the real story. That run of three consecutive thirds looks frustratingly consistent in the wrong way: close enough to win but not quite there. The eighth-place finish stands out as the real dud, though it's only one race and form can turn quickly at two years old. Yesterday's third suggests Velozee is still in the mix and still racing, which counts for something.

P Twomey's yard at Cashel has sent out 35 winners this season, so Velozee is in a stable with a track record of getting horses to the winners' enclosure. The question now is whether the trainer can rediscover what made the horse tick in April and May, or whether that early promise was simply a two-year-old learning as it went. At this age, form swings are common enough, but four months without a win after two early victories is long enough to wonder if something has shifted.