Bobby Bennu

His breakthrough victory came at Chester on 29 June 2024, and he followed that with two more wins before a drought set in that lasted until 13 November 2024 at Lingfield Park. Since that last success at Lingfield, he has not tasted the winner's circle—nothing in his last six races, most recently finishing 12th just one day ago. Yet his trainer Roger Varian, based at Newmarket, sees something worth developing. When asked about Bobby Bennu's prospects, Varian spoke with the easy confidence of someone who has already made his mind up. The horse is solid and consistent, he said, with a natural distance of around seven furlongs that should suit a summer programme of races tailored to his level. The trainer even hinted at the possibility of stretching him out to a mile around a bend later on, suggesting Varian believes there is untapped potential still locked inside this five-year-old.

The catch is that Bobby Bennu has struggled badly at the top of his reach. At Class 2 level—one of Britain's better races—he has won none from nine attempts. With jockey Silvestre De Sousa, his most frequent partner, he has managed 2 wins from 7 races together, a healthy 29 per cent win rate, yet recent form offers no encouragement. Bobby Bennu remains a horse marking time, waiting for the right race and the right distance to click. Whether Varian's summer programme delivers that chance remains to be seen.