Emperor Caradoc

The most striking number is at Nottingham, where he has won 2 of his 3 races there. That is a remarkable return for any horse, and it suggests the track suits him in some particular way — whether the layout, the bends, or simply the way races tend to pan out there. Most of his racing has come at Class 5 level, the bread-and-butter tier of the sport, and at that level he has won 5 from 21, or roughly 1 in every 4 races — a genuinely solid record. His most recent win came at Thirsk in May, two months ago, and his current form reads 2-6-5-3-1-13, meaning he has placed in four of his last six runs. He is ticking along nicely.

Midgley, who has been in fine form this season with 39 winners from the yard, has noted that Emperor Caradoc tends to prefer a smaller, more manageable field where he can get to the front and impose himself rather than being swallowed up by a big group. He tried York recently, but that was probably a step too far in terms of competition. The trainer also believes six furlongs suits him better than five — he travels more smoothly over the longer trip rather than being asked to quicken from the off.

David Nolan is very much the man Emperor Caradoc goes best for. The pair have teamed up 14 times and won 4 of them — that's nearly 1 in 3 rides converting into a win, which is a striking ratio and well above the horse's overall record. When Nolan is booked, it is worth paying attention. Interestingly, Emperor Caradoc handles both wet and dry ground well, winning 3 from 8 on fast, dry ground and 2 from 8 on wet — a versatility that keeps him in the mix whatever the weather brings.