Banksman

Both of those wins arrived in a ten-day spell last June — first at Great Yarmouth on the 11th, then at Lingfield Park on the 21st. Back-to-back victories like that, even at Class 6 level (the entry-level tier of British racing), suggest a horse that hit a rich vein of form rather than one that fluked its way into the winner's enclosure. The distance sweet spot appears to be somewhere between a mile and a furlong and a mile and two furlongs — Banksman has won 1 from 5 races at those trips, a 20% rate that stands out against its overall record.

The partnership with jockey Edward Greatrex is worth keeping an eye on. In 8 races together, they've won twice — that's 1 win in every 4 rides, which is a notably better return than the horse manages with anyone else. When Greatrex is in the saddle, Banksman simply looks like a different proposition. Trainer Sheena West, based at Lewes in West Sussex, has sent out 8 winners this season, so the yard is clearly in decent working order even if Banksman itself hasn't found the winner's circle since that Lingfield success.

The recent form is harder to spin positively. The last 6 runs read 7-–-8-10-8-5, meaning Banksman has finished well down the field on most outings, with a non-completion tucked in there too. It raced just yesterday, so it's very much an active runner — but it hasn't won in any of those last 6 starts. The Class 6 record of 2 wins from 9 races at that level (22%) is the most encouraging number in the file. That's roughly 1 in every 4 or 5 races at the bottom tier, which says this is a horse that, in the right spot and ideally with Greatrex aboard, can get the job done. It just needs the stars to line up again.