Eager Puccini

The recent form makes for difficult reading. Looking at the last six races, the placings read 9, 11, 7, 10, 10, and 6 — most recently finishing sixth just yesterday, which at least hints at a slight improvement in the latest outing. At its level, racing mostly in Class 5 company — the entry-level tier of British racing — Eager Puccini has gone 0 from 3 in those races, which means it has not been able to win even in the races designed for horses at the lower end of the sport. That is the most honest way to put it.

It is worth noting that the Birkett yard is not struggling overall. Julia and Shelley Birkett have sent out 18 winners this season, which shows they know how to get horses winning. That context matters — Eager Puccini's difficulties are about the horse rather than any lack of skill in the stable. The question now is whether the team can find the right conditions or distance to unlock something in this horse, or whether patience simply continues to be the order of the day. Racing at just four years old, there is still time — but the clock is ticking, and the record so far gives little to build a case on.