Banana

The recent form makes grim reading. In the last six races, Banana has finished seventh, seventh, third, fourth, second, and tenth — a sequence that shows occasional promise (that third place, that near-miss in second) mixed with heavy defeats. It is that kind of record: never quite good enough to win again, but not so hopeless that the yard gives up. Banana competes almost entirely in Class 6 races, the lowest tier of British racing, where it has won just 2 of 52 races, a win rate of 4 percent. Even at this modest level, victory eludes it more often than not.

Kieran O'Neill has been Banana's regular rider, partnering the horse 13 times with just one win — better than Banana's overall average, but still a 8 percent return. Scott Dixon's yard at Rolleston has had a decent season with 33 winners already, but Banana remains unmoved by its trainer's efforts. The horse is still racing, still active, and still chasing that next win. For some horses, that gap between victories just keeps growing. For Banana, it has now stretched to 15 months.