Alta Rica

The bulk of her racing has come at Class 5, the level where most horses of her type spend their careers. She has run seven times at that level without winning, which is the kind of record that raises a genuine question — is she good enough to win at this level, or does she need things to fall perfectly her way? So far, perfectly has not quite arrived. Marcus Tregoning, her trainer, has sent out four winners this season, so the yard is in decent enough nick, and Alta Rica herself raced just yesterday, meaning she is very much in active work right now.

At 11 races without a win, patience is clearly the watchword around this horse. But the consistency in her recent runs — the fact she has barely missed the frame — suggests she is fit, honest and trying. Sometimes a horse like this just needs one small thing to go right: a smaller field, a well-timed ride, a day when the main rival stumbles. Whether Alta Rica gets that day remains to be seen, but she is clearly still being pointed at opportunities, and with her level of recent consistency, it would be no great shock if she finally broke through.