Come On Over

The recent form tells a familiar story. That second place six runs ago briefly looked like a turning point, but Come On Over has finished sixth, seventh, or worse in four of the last six outings. Running consistently at Class 5 — the bread-and-butter level of British racing, where horses are competing for modest prize money in races designed for modest ability — the horse has drawn a blank in all five attempts at that level. At some point the question becomes whether this is a horse having a rough patch or one that simply needs everything to fall perfectly to get its nose in front.

The one genuinely encouraging factor in the picture is the yard behind it. David O'Meara's operation at Upper Helmsley in North Yorkshire is one of the most productive in the country, and this season alone has sent out 102 winners — a figure that reflects serious organisation and real horsemanship. O'Meara regularly places horses shrewdly and gets them winning, so if anyone can find the right opportunity for Come On Over, it is him. The horse raced just yesterday, which means the yard — sorry, the team — are keeping it busy and clearly believe there is a race to be won somewhere. Whether Come On Over agrees is another matter.