Atreides

Mulholland, who trains out of Limpley Stoke in Wiltshire and has sent out 60 winners already this season, is clearly a man who knows his horses well. He noted that since the visor went on, Atreides produced two wins and a second at Wincanton — a genuine purple patch for a horse who competes mostly at the lower end of the sport. After the Fontwell win, Mulholland was visibly pleased, pointing to the horse's attitude, his jumping, and his willingness to handle the conditions. That's the kind of thing trainers say when a horse is doing everything asked of it.

Since that December double, though, Atreides has gone six races without winning. His recent form — a mix of thirds, fifths, and a second — suggests he's competitive without quite getting his nose in front. His most regular jockey, Conor O'Farrell, has ridden him eight times without a win together, which is a run that will be on both their minds. For context, most of Atreides' career has been spent at Class 5 level, the entry-level tier of British racing, where he's won 1 from 18 races — consistent, present, but rarely the one holding the trophy.

Mulholland's plan, as of early February, was to give him a short break and bring him back fresh for the spring. Given that the visor seemed to unlock something in him, and that he raced just yesterday and remains in training, it will be worth watching what happens when he returns. He may never be a big-occasion horse, but for a yard that clearly believes in him, Atreides has shown he can still surprise people when the conditions are right.