Double Meaning

The partnership with jockey Marco Ghiani is worth noting too. When Ghiani is in the saddle, Double Meaning has won 2 of their 7 races together — that's closer to 1 in 3, well above the horse's overall average. Whether it is a matter of trust, timing, or simply style, something clicks between the two of them, and any race where Ghiani takes the ride is worth a second look.

Double Meaning's best trips are the longer ones, between a mile and six furlongs and two miles. At those distances, it has won 2 from 7, which sounds modest until you consider that shorter-distance horses rarely cope when stretched this far — the fact that this horse thrives at the staying end of the card tells you something about its engine. John Berry's yard in Newmarket has sent out 13 winners this season, which suggests a yard in decent form and one that knows how to place its horses to win.

The recent form does take a little of the shine off. The last two runs produced a fifth and a third, and the most recent win came at Lingfield Park back in September — now nine months ago. The run before that was a second place, so the horse is not running badly, it simply has not reached the top step in a while. Raced just yesterday, Double Meaning is as current and active as it gets. Whether that most recent run hints at a return to winning form or continues a frustrating near-miss streak is the question every observer will be asking as the summer meetings continue.