Billy Boi Blue

He won at Worcester just this week, on 12 October, which means he is still sharp and still capable of getting the job done. Looking back at his last six races, he has won twice, and more tellingly, he has been competitive: two wins, two places, and a couple of further efforts. That is a horse who shows up and runs his race, not one drifting away from the game.

The real story lies in his taste for softer ground. When the going has been slightly yielding, Billy Boi Blue is a different prospect entirely — he has won 3 of his 6 races on that terrain, a 50 per cent win rate that stands out sharply against his overall 24 per cent. British autumn weather works in his favour, and the fact that his most recent victory came in October, typically a wet month, suggests the current season may bring more chances. He races most often at Class 4 level, where he has won 2 of 7 races (29 per cent), comfortable enough to suggest he belongs at that grade.

Trained by David Killahena and Graeme McPherson from their yard at Stow-on-the-Wold in Gloucestershire, Billy Boi Blue continues to race actively. The partnership has already sent out 18 winners this season, so he is part of a functioning operation. If the ground stays on the soft side and he continues to race at Class 4, there is every reason to think he will add to his tally over the coming months.