Cartwheel

The problem is that it happened 20 months ago, and the six races since have brought nothing better than a third place. The recent string of results — a seventh, a blank, two sixths, a thirteenth, and a third — paints a picture of a horse that has struggled to rediscover that Kempton spark. Whether that day was a peak or simply the first sign of what this horse can do remains the question.

What is worth noting is where Cartwheel tends to look most comfortable. Over distances of seven furlongs to a mile, the horse has won 1 of 4 races — that's 25%, or 1 in every 4, which is a solid return compared to the overall career record. At Class 2 level specifically, the figures read 1 win from 3 attempts, which again points to a horse that, on the right day, at the right trip, can perform at a high level. That's genuinely encouraging. It suggests Cartwheel isn't misplaced in these races — just waiting for conditions to fall right again.

Trained by Dylan Cunha out of Newmarket, Cartwheel is in capable hands. Cunha's yard has sent out 45 winners this season, making it one of the more productive operations in the country. With Cartwheel back racing just yesterday, there's clearly still belief from the team that there's another big day in this horse. Whether it comes soon is another matter — but the Kempton win proves it's possible.