The recent form tells an interesting story. Going back through the last six races, Former Flame has finished sixth, second, second, seventh, ninth, and fifth. Those two runner-up finishes stand out — this is a horse that has been competitive enough to finish right behind the winner on more than one occasion, which suggests the ability is there. The flip side is that it has also posted a seventh and a ninth in that same spell, which points to some inconsistency. On its best days it threatens; on its worst, it disappears into the pack.
Liz Doyle's yard has sent out four winners this season, so this is an active, functioning operation rather than a quiet backwater, and Former Flame raced just yesterday, meaning it is fit and in a training routine. Whether Doyle can find the right opportunity to finally get this horse its winning moment is the open question. Some horses are perennial places — honest, reliable, never quite good enough. Others just need everything to fall right on the day. With two second-place finishes already on its record, Former Flame has at least proved it knows where the finish line is.
| Course | Races | Results | Last visited | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clonmel Sharp |
2 | 1 second, 1 other | 14 Apr | 0% |
| Cork Galloping |
1 | 1 other | 17 Jan | 0% |
| Roscommon Sharp |
1 | 1 third | 8 Jul | 0% |
| Leopardstown Galloping |
1 | 1 other | 3 Mar | 0% |
| Limerick Galloping |
1 | 1 second | 30 May | 0% |
| Killarney Sharp |
1 | 1 second | 12 May | 0% |
| Wexford Sharp |
1 | 1 other | 7 Aug | 0% |