Charlie's Dilemma

The recent form makes for mixed reading. A third-place finish four runs back suggested a step in the right direction, but the two most recent outings have both ended in eighth, and the overall trajectory over the last six races has been flat rather than improving. Mr A Harvey, who has partnered the horse in 7 of those 14 races, is still waiting for a breakthrough too — their record together reads 0 wins from 7, which tells its own story.

What keeps this profile from being entirely gloomy is the context around it. McConnell's yard has been in fine form this season, sending out 36 winners — that is a stable that clearly knows how to get a horse ready to win. Charlie's Dilemma raced just yesterday, so the yard are clearly keeping faith and keeping the horse busy. At seven years old, this is not a young prospect still finding its feet — but some horses simply find their moment later than others, and with a trainer in that kind of form, the opportunity is there. Whether Charlie's Dilemma can finally take it remains the question.