Fierce

Paul Midgley's yard, based near Ripon in North Yorkshire, is a shrewd operation. The trainer spotted Fierce at a horses in training sale, where the horse was cheaper than expected after a poor run in a seller beforehand. Midgley suspected there was something fixable about him and was proved right. A soft palate procedure made the difference, and Fierce then began to run with real purpose. His winning record tells the story of a horse who thrives on normal ground — he has won 2 of his 12 races on those conditions, a 17% win rate that stands out sharply against his form on other going. By contrast, at Class 4 level, where the races are more competitive, he has yet to win from 14 attempts.

Tom Queally, his most frequent jockey, has partnered him twice, winning once. The recent Wolverhampton claimer came when the early pace was hectic and things came to suit him on the day. Fierce is a long shot these days and unlikely to return to winning ways often, but he remains sound enough to give his trainer another pleasant surprise when the ground suits him and the race unfolds in his favour.