Boyles Hill

The most telling detail about this horse is its absolute preference for wet, muddy ground. Run it on those days when the track is heavy, and Boyles Hill transforms into a different proposition — it has won two of its three races on such conditions, a 67 per cent win rate that stands in sharp contrast to its overall record. On normal or dry ground, the horse struggles to replicate that form. Mrs C. Williams, who trains from Llancarfan in the Vale of Glamorgan, seems to understand this, though recent results suggest she may have struggled to find the right opportunities. The yard has sent out just three winners this season, and Boyles Hill's empty run of form suggests it is not one of them.

What gives the profile a small spark of interest is Isabel Williams, who rides the horse far more effectively than the record might suggest. In five races together, they have combined for two wins — a 40 per cent win rate, nearly double the horse's overall average. When both horse and rider line up together on the kind of heavy ground that suits Boyles Hill, there may yet be another race in the tank. For now, though, this is a horse searching for form after a long drought, competing mostly at Class 4 level where it has won 2 of 7 races.