Alice's Influence

Her recent form tells the story of a horse treading water. Over her last six outings she's finished fourth, fifth, fourth, third, fourth, and third — solid efforts that show she's competitive at her level, but nothing that suggests a breakthrough is imminent. Raced just a day ago, she remains in active training under David Evans at Pandy in Monmouths, a yard that has been firing on all cylinders this season with 37 winners already to its name. When Alice's Influence has stepped up to Class 5 races, however — one of the trickier tiers — she's drawn a complete blank, with three attempts and no wins. She seems to belong at an easier grade, where she's at least capable of mixing it, even if the victories aren't coming regularly. The question now is whether she can rediscover that form that brought her home first at Wetherby, or whether her solitary win will remain just that — a flash in a largely unremarkable campaign so far.