Bourbon Blues

The pattern in Bourbon Blues' record is becoming clearer. It absolutely thrives over a mile and three to a mile and four furlongs, winning half its races at those distances — two wins from four attempts. Give it normal, standard ground and it performs noticeably better too, winning a third of its races on such conditions. The trouble comes when it steps up to Class 1 company, the very top tier: it has run three times against that level of opposition and hasn't won yet. This suggests Bourbon Blues may have found its natural level around Class 2 and Class 3, where it can compete and win, rather than being a top-level horse.

Recent form has been patchy. It finished eighteen lengths back just a day ago, but before that came fourth and third, mixed results for a horse that seemed to be thriving in September and October. Brian Meehan's yard at Manton is sending out winners regularly this season, so the horse is in capable hands. Bourbon Blues has a clear profile now: get it on normal ground, keep it at the mile-and-a-half range, and pitch it against horses just below the absolute elite, and it will run well. It may never be a top-tier racer, but it is becoming a reliable, decent horse — the sort that makes racing interesting without breaking any records.