Feet On The Ground

What makes this particularly puzzling is that Feet On The Ground is not being thrown into deep water. Class 5 is the entry-level tier of British racing — essentially the bottom rung of the ladder — and yet across six races at that level, the win rate sits at zero from six. At this stage of a career, and at this level, you would expect a horse of genuine ability to have found a way through at least once. The places suggest it is competitive enough to be in the conversation, just not competitive enough to win it.

Jonathan Burke has stuck with the horse more than anyone, taking the ride seven times without a winner to show for it. That kind of loyalty from a jockey usually means something — either a belief the win is coming, or a working relationship with the yard that keeps him in the saddle regardless. The trainer, Fergal O'Brien, is no small operation. His yard in Withington, Gloucestershire has sent out 90 winners already this season, which is a serious number — that is a yard that knows how to get horses to win races. The fact that Feet On The Ground has not troubled the scorer despite being in such capable hands only adds to the curiosity.

Raced just one day ago, the horse is clearly fit and active, and O'Brien's team are evidently not giving up on finding the right opportunity. Whether that opportunity ever arrives is the open question. Six places from 15 races means the horse is not disgracing itself — it is just perpetually finishing the race slightly behind the person cashing a winning ticket.