Villagers Cross

The recent form makes for difficult reading. Over its last six races, the best finish has been fifth, with a sixth and a tenth also on the card. That kind of pattern suggests a horse that is competitive enough to complete but not yet finding the pace or the moment to challenge at the sharp end. Whether that changes with more experience, a different trip, or a particular type of ground remains to be seen.

Villagers Cross is trained by Paul John Gilligan out of Athenry in County Galway. The yard has sent out five winners this season, so there is clearly ability there to get horses winning. The question is whether Gilligan can find the right opportunity to unlock something in this horse. At six years old, time is not unlimited, but horses do occasionally surprise — and the fact that the team keeps running Villagers Cross suggests they believe there is a race to be won somewhere.