Bashful Boy

When conditions are right, though, Bashful Boy can be a different proposition. On fast, dry ground he has won 2 of just 4 races — a remarkable 50% — which suggests that when the sun has been out and the ground is riding quick, he genuinely comes alive. File that away if you ever see him declared on a dry summer's day. He also finds his best form over distances between a mile and six furlongs and two miles, winning 3 of 16 races at those trips, which works out at roughly 1 in every 5 — significantly better than his overall record. Pipe clearly knows where this horse is most comfortable.

The David Pipe yard has been in decent nick this season, sending out 35 winners, so the infrastructure and confidence are there. Bashful Boy's most frequent jockey partner is Jack Tudor, though their combination has only clicked once from 12 races together — 1 in 12, or about 8% — so it hasn't exactly been a dream partnership on paper. Most of his racing comes at Class 4 level, a solid mid-tier where he has won 4 of 18 races, or just over 1 in 5, suggesting he holds his own without threatening the very best.

His recent form reads 4th, 5th, 7th, 4th, 3rd, 2nd from his last six races — always hovering, never quite getting there. He raced just nine days ago and remains active, so Pipe clearly has a plan. At ten years old, the clock is ticking, but if the sun comes out and the ground firms up, don't write him off entirely. Some horses just need the right day.