Crebilly

His most recent victory came three months ago at Market Rasen on 28 May, but he has raced just once since then, finishing second. Before that he was fourth, fifth, and first in his previous three outings — the pattern of a horse bouncing between form and off-days. The yard has kept him active and competitive despite a setback last season; an injury at Chepstow forced a rethink about how to run him. Rather than persist with fences, where Crebilly has never been the smoothest jumper, the team switched him back to hurdles at Aintree, a tactic that suggests patience and pragmatism rather than panic.

Jonjo O'Neill Jr has been in the saddle for most of Crebilly's career, steering him to three of his four wins across 20 rides together — a 15 percent win rate that mirrors the horse's overall record. The O'Neill yard at Cheltenham, which saddled 51 winners this season alone, clearly backs Crebilly to deliver on the good days. The trainer sees a horse capable of running well if given a clear season without injury, which is often the dividing line between a horse that keeps winning and one that stays stuck at four victories. At nine years old and still competing, Crebilly has time to add to his tally if fortune stays with him.