Freddie Fleetfoot

His recent form reads 7-6-8-4-4, meaning he finished seventh, sixth, eighth, fourth and fourth in his last five races (he sat out one). That fourth-place finish two runs ago was his best result in months, though it hardly suggests a horse about to turn a corner. Most tellingly, he has not won a race in his entire partnership with jockey Elizabeth Gale, who has ridden him in nine of his 17 races. In Class 5 company, where Freddie competes most often — he has run 11 times at that level without a win — you would expect even a moderately decent horse to pick up a victory or two. The fact that he hasn't suggests he is genuinely struggling to find the form needed even at this humble level.

What keeps him going is harder to say from the bare facts alone. He was active just yesterday, so his the yard clearly believe there is still something to work with, though his age and record suggest he is running out of chances. For a horse with no wins and dwindling opportunities, the next few races will tell whether Freddie Fleetfoot has any future left on the track.