Babychino

The recent form paints an interesting picture. A run of 2-3-5-–-3-7 across the last six outings tells you this is a horse that can get close — two runner-up finishes in there — but hasn't quite been able to seal the deal. The dash in that sequence indicates a race where no finishing position was recorded, which can happen for various reasons, and the slide back to fifth and seventh in more recent runs suggests a horse searching for consistency as much as a win.

James Turner has been the regular partner, riding Babychino in 6 of those races without a victory between them. That doesn't necessarily mean the combination isn't working — sometimes a horse just needs things to fall right — but it's fair to say they're still waiting for their moment together. The horse typically lines up in Class 4 races, which are mid-level contests, not the very top tier but competitive enough. Three runs at that level without a win confirms this isn't a straightforward task.

Trainer Alexander Gibbons operates out of Broad Hinton in Wiltshire, a small yard that has sent out just 2 winners so far this season. That's a modest total, and it tells you this isn't a powerhouse stable with resources to spare — which makes placing a horse like Babychino in the right race, at the right time, all the more important. Babychino raced just one day ago, so the team are keeping the horse busy and clearly believe there's a performance in there worth chasing. Whether that patience eventually pays off with a first win remains to be seen.