Contemplation

Trained by Mike Sowersby out of a small yard in Little Barugh, North Yorkshire, Contemplation at least comes from a stable that knows how to win. Sowersby's team has sent out six winners already this season, which suggests the problem is not a lack of ability in the yard — it simply has not clicked for this particular horse yet. Whether that changes soon remains to be seen, but the fact that Contemplation is still running regularly at three years old means the team clearly believes there is something worth persevering with.

For now, though, the bare facts are hard to dress up. No wins, no places, a form line that reads 4-4-6-6-9 — and that most recent result, a ninth, is not the kind of run that has punters reaching for their wallets. Contemplation needs to find some improvement, and quickly, before patience starts to wear thin.