Emperor Caradoc

What marks him out is his consistency at certain tracks and with particular conditions. At Nottingham, he is a different proposition entirely: he has won 2 of his 4 races there, a win rate of 50 percent that suggests he has found a course that suits him. He also thrives when the ground is firm and fast, winning 3 of 10 races on dry conditions—good going for a horse at this level. Last week he won at Redcar on 3 October, his seventh career victory and proof that he still has winning races in him.

His partnership with jockey David Nolan is particularly fruitful. Nolan has ridden him 14 times and won on 4 of those occasions—a 29 percent win rate that is significantly better than his overall record. That kind of figure suggests Nolan understands how to get the best from him. Trainer Paul Midgley, based at Westow in North Yorkshire, has noted that Emperor Caradoc tends to perform better in smaller fields, where he can assert himself, and that he handles six furlongs better than five. It is a thoughtful observation: the extra distance allows him to travel and build momentum in a way the shorter trip does not. With his yard sending out 39 winners already this season, Midgley has clearly found the right formula for Emperor Caradoc, even if he remains a horse for selective opportunities rather than a weekly banker.