Ajrad

Ajrad thrives on normal ground and genuinely loves a straight track, where he's won 4 of his 17 races over his favoured distance of one mile one furlong to one mile two furlongs—that's a 24% win rate at the trip. Bath and Chepstow, where he won twice last season and finished second twice more, seem to bring out his best. Millman has spotted something telling about this horse: Ajrad performs best when held back in the early stages and allowed to overtake, rather than raced handily up front. When forced to lead or kept too close to the pace, he becomes resentful and starts pulling—a sign of a horse that likes to make his own decisions. Last week at Kempton, a rival cut across him mid-race, and when his jockey had to snatch back the reins, Ajrad immediately started fighting for his head again.

Ridden most often by Lewis Edmunds, with whom he's won 3 of 15 races together, Ajrad competes primarily at Class 6 level, where he's won 7 of 40 races. He's currently active and was last out just a day ago, suggesting he's being campaigned regularly. At eight years old and without a win in twelve months, he's clearly heading into the twilight of his career, but Millman's yard at Kentisbeare, Devon, has been in good form this season with 42 winners. For a horse that knows his own mind as well as Ajrad does, finding the right race, the right track, and the right tactics remains the puzzle worth solving.