Est Illic

The horse's recent form offers little encouragement. In its last six races, Est Illic has finished outside the top 3 four times, with a fourth place and two thirds as its best results. Most recently, it raced just a day ago and finished fourth, continuing a streak without a win that now stretches back well beyond these latest runs. William Kennedy, who rides the horse most often, has partnered it seven times without a victory either. The trainer, Sarah-Jayne Davies, runs a yard at Leominster in Herefordshire that has managed five winners this season, but Est Illic simply has not been among the success stories.

At 12 years old, Est Illic is in the later stages of a racing career that has never produced the result that would define it—a win. For a horse that races regularly and stays in training, the absence of victory after 28 races is striking. The fact that it continues to race suggests the horse remains sound and healthy, and there are those who believe the breakthrough could still come, but time is running out for Est Illic to add that elusive first win to its record.