Fox Wallace

That Stratford win, his one career highlight, now sits 15 months in the past, and his last six runs have brought a string of sixth, seventh, and fifth-place finishes — the kind of form that is solid without being spectacular. He raced just yesterday, so he is very much still active and still being aimed at races. He typically competes at Class 5, which is the entry level of British racing — the races where horses like Fox Wallace can be competitive without facing the elite. Even there, he has won just 1 from 15 attempts at that level, or roughly 1 in every 15 races, so he has had to earn his moment.

His most regular partner in the saddle is Ben Godfrey, who has ridden him 13 times — more than half his career races. Between them they have that one win to show for it, a record of 1 from 13 together. It speaks to a genuine working relationship, even if the results have been modest. Fox Wallace is trained by Ella Pickard, whose small yard is tucked away in Timberscombe in Somerset. Five winners sent out this season shows a yard that is punching and finding results, and Fox Wallace's Stratford win will have been a meaningful moment for a team that clearly keeps faith with their horses over the long haul. The fact that he is still racing at eight, still placed regularly, and still being turned out tells you plenty about the care he receives.