Devious Devan

That first career win, recorded just one day ago, is the headline. Wolverhampton is an all-weather track that races year-round under floodlights, and it tends to suit horses who are consistent and straightforward rather than flashy — which may explain why Devious Devan finally got his moment there. His recent form coming into the race made grim reading: four finishes of 9th, 9th, 8th, and 7th in a row. To then turn up and win is the kind of thing that keeps racing interesting. Horses do not read their own form guides.

What makes the win slightly more surprising is who was not on board. Regular jockey Lewis Edmunds had partnered Devious Devan nine times without getting him to the winner's enclosure — a record of 0 from 9 together. That is a long run without reward for any partnership, and the fact that the breakthrough came with a different rider will raise a few eyebrows at the Lambourn yard of William Muir and Chris Grassick. To their credit, the team has been in good form this season with 21 winners sent out, so they clearly know what they are doing. Perhaps a small change was all Devious Devan needed.

One note of caution: his record at Class 5, the level he most frequently competes at, reads 0 wins from 6 races before this breakthrough. Tuesday's win was at that same level, so it counts — but it also confirms he is operating at the more accessible end of the sport. That is no embarrassment. Plenty of horses find their level and thrive in it, and right now Devious Devan is a horse whose the yard will be keen to strike again while confidence is high. Whether this is the start of something or a one-off, only the next few runs will tell.