Bayraat

The level Bayraat tends to compete at makes that record all the more striking. Most of those races have been at Class 5, which sits near the bottom of the British racing ladder — these are contests designed for horses who are consistent but limited, and even there, Bayraat has yet to win, with 16 races at that level producing zero victories. That sounds deflating, but the flip side is that 12 places from 33 races tells you this isn't a horse that runs badly. It just rarely wins. Think of someone who always finishes the race but never quite breaks the tape first.

Recent form, at least, shows some life. The last six runs read 2-2-5-14-10-8, and those two runner-up finishes are genuinely encouraging — second place is exactly the kind of form that keeps a horse in contention and keeps a team hopeful. The 14th-place finish earlier in that sequence is a blip, but the more recent efforts point to a horse running well rather than fading away.

Billy Garritty has been the most regular partner, riding Bayraat in 11 races together and winning on that memorable Nottingham day — giving the pair a win rate of 9%, or roughly 1 in every 11 rides together. That's not a high number in isolation, but it's still miles ahead of the overall career average, and it suggests some genuine understanding between horse and rider. Trainer Tom Tate, based in Tadcaster in North Yorkshire, has sent out four winners already this season, so the yard is in decent form even if Bayraat hasn't added to that tally.

Raced just yesterday and still actively competing at the age of 10, Bayraat is clearly a durable, hardy horse that has given its team plenty of near-misses. Whether another win ever comes is the open question — but recent seconds suggest it isn't beyond the realms of possibility.