Atheneum

The recent form makes for interesting reading. In its last six races, Atheneum has finished second twice, which means it has come agonisingly close on multiple occasions without converting. The flip side is a 10th and a 17th in that same sequence, so it is not entirely consistent — there are days when it simply does not fire. What that pattern often suggests is a horse that needs things to fall right, and when they do, it is a serious contender for the minor money at the very least.

Trained by Philip Kirby at his yard in East Appleton, North Yorkshire, Atheneum is in capable hands. Kirby's team have sent out 36 winners already this season, which speaks to a yard operating with genuine momentum. Having that kind of firepower behind a horse that has not yet won is actually encouraging — it means the team believe there is a race to be won with Atheneum, otherwise it simply would not keep running. It raced just yesterday, so the yard are clearly keeping it busy and looking for the right opportunity.

The honest assessment is that Atheneum has been close without being a winner, and at five years old the clock is not exactly ticking loudly — but it is ticking. A horse with this profile needs to find a race it can win before the frustrating bridesmaid label becomes the whole story.