Victoria Milano

Her trainer, Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero, have not given up on her. The yard—based at Oldcastle in Cheshire and already responsible for 43 winners this season—suspects the problem may be physical rather than mental. A wind operation has been scheduled to address what they believe has been holding her back. The trainer's notes hint at what made Victoria Milano worth backing before: she was consistent, she had found a level that suited her, and she travelled well in her races even when the result did not come. The problem is that her signature race—the win at Sandown—has not been repeated. At Class 4 level, where she has competed most, she has managed just one win from ten races. That is a thin win rate for a horse of her experience and age, but recent form suggests she may have been running below her best. If the operation works and she rediscovers even a fraction of last season's form, Victoria Milano could be worth watching. For now, she remains a work in progress for a yard that clearly believes she still has something to offer.