Flash Rascal

The interesting pattern emerges in how Flash Rascal's recent form reads: 7-8-1-3-2-3 over his last six races. That opening 7 (meaning seventh place) was only a day ago, which puts him back in action very quickly. What stands out is that he has picked up places in 4 of those last 6 races — he clearly knows how to run close without quite getting home. When he does race at Class 5 level, the elite group of races, the picture tightens: he has not won from 7 attempts there. This tells you Flash Rascal is a horse who belongs in the middle ranks, competitive enough to threaten, but not yet equipped to win at the highest level he enters.

He is trained by David Loughnane at Stoke Heath in Shropshire, a yard that has sent 39 winners out this season and clearly knows how to prepare a horse for a race. With Flash Rascal still only three years old, there is every chance he will continue to improve and piece together a longer run of form. For now, though, he remains a horse to admire for consistency rather than dominance — the sort that turns up, runs hard, and occasionally leaves you smiling.