Busty Boy

The recent form figures tell that story perfectly. In his last six races, he has finished third, third, third, second, second, second — six consecutive placings without a win. That is not a horse falling apart or running badly. That is a horse who turns up every time and finishes just behind the ones that matter. He is the reliable runner-up, the horse who makes other horses look good. He raced just yesterday, so clearly there is no shortage of enthusiasm from trainer Daragh Bourke's yard in Waterbeck, which has sent out 11 winners already this season and clearly keeps Busty Boy busy.

His regular partner is jockey Brian Hughes, one of the most respected riders in the north of Britain. Together they have won 1 from 7 races, a win rate of around 1 in 7, which is actually more encouraging than the overall career numbers suggest. Hughes knows the horse, and Busty Boy clearly runs his best races at Class 4 level — that one career win from 10 races at that grade is where he belongs and where he is most competitive. Kelso, where that sole victory came, seems to suit him too.

The honest summary is this: Busty Boy is a nine-year-old with a career earning record that reflects a solid, consistent performer at the mid-tier level rather than a big-occasion horse. He will not often win, but he will rarely embarrass anyone either. Whether that one more victory is still in him after 30 months of trying is the interesting question — and given that he was out racing yesterday and keeps finishing in the frame, it would be unwise to completely write him off.