Charlotte Square

What makes the story unusual is the stable it comes from. Andrew Balding's yard at Kingsclere in Hampshire is one of the most productive operations in Britain this season, having sent out 202 winners — a remarkable output that puts it among the elite training operations in the country. Most horses that come through a yard of that quality find their level eventually, which makes Charlotte Square's consistent struggles all the more puzzling. Regular partner Ben Poste has ridden the horse five times without a win, and the combination has yet to fire.

Charlotte Square has spent most of its career competing at Class 5, the lower end of the racing ladder where the aim is simply to find the right race for each horse to be competitive. Six races at that level have produced nothing, and at 0 wins from 13 career races, it is fair to say the horse has not yet found its race. Raced just one day ago, it remains active, and the team clearly believes there is something to work with. Whether that faith is rewarded remains to be seen.