Bold Endeavour

The problem, as Nicky Henderson tells it, is that Bold Endeavour became a victim of his own consistency. Two seasons ago, the horse ran so well in big staying races that the handicapper — the official who adjusts a horse's weight to make competition fair — simply would not lower his rating back down. He kept being asked to race against better and better horses, and at that level, placing rather than winning becomes the norm. The numbers bear this out: in nine attempts at Class 2 level, some of the toughest races in the sport, he has not won once.

His last victory came at Doncaster on 10 January 2023, now more than three years ago, and it arrived on ground conditions that suited him — fast and dry underfoot. Jockey Nico de Boinville, who knows the horse well having ridden him to 2 wins from 8 races together (a win rate of 1 in 4, which is exceptional), noted afterwards that Bold Endeavour prefers better ground and probably goes more naturally right-handed around a track. Henderson has since decided to keep him over hurdles rather than fences, having felt the horse was never truly at ease jumping the bigger obstacles.

The last six races have brought a couple of third-place finishes but also some disappointing results, and the current form figures — 7-3-blank-blank-7-13 — are not pretty. But Henderson's tone is that of a trainer who has genuine affection for the horse rather than frustration. "A good old soldier," he called him — and that phrase carries real meaning. Bold Endeavour has not disgraced himself; he has simply been set tasks that were a size too big. Racing him over hurdles on better ground, at a level where his rating is more manageable, could be exactly the reset he needs. He raced 29 days ago and remains in training, so the next chapter is still being written.