Aura Champagne

Having last raced just a day ago, Aura Champagne is being kept active, which is often a sign a trainer believes a win is within reach. The horse is in the care of Richard Hannon, whose Herridge yard in Wiltshire has already sent out 118 winners this season, so there is genuine quality in the operation. The consistency of placings — never out of the first three in recent runs — suggests Aura Champagne is competitive at its current level and not struggling badly. The gap between second place and winning is sometimes a single length or a better tactical ride, and for a 3-year-old still early in its racing career, that kind of near-miss form is often where real improvement starts. The question is whether the next race will be the one where it puts it together.