Brave Empire

That Lingfield win is worth dwelling on. It came in a Class 2 race — one of the top tiers in British racing — which means Brave Empire has already proven it can compete and beat quality opposition when everything clicks. Winning at that level is genuinely difficult, and plenty of horses never manage it. The fact that the first career win arrived at Windsor in June 2023 and was quickly followed by a step up to Class 2 success suggests there was real promise there. What has happened since is less clear-cut. The last six runs read 8-9-13-5-4-7 (working backwards from most recent), and while a fourth and fifth place show the horse is not completely out of form, that 13th place finish in the middle of the sequence is the kind of result that raises questions.

Most of Brave Empire's racing has come at Class 4 level — one level below where it scored that standout win — and even there it has managed just 1 win from 8 races (12%). That is not a disaster, but it does suggest a horse that is competitive without being dominant. Ivan Furtado, the trainer based in Wiseton, South Yorkshire, has had a productive season with 43 winners sent out, so the yard is clearly in good form. Whether Brave Empire can rediscover its own best form and add to those three career wins is the question. It raced just yesterday, so it is very much in active campaigning — and the history of that February 2024 performance proves it has the ability to produce something special when conditions suit.