Freshers Week

What makes Freshers Week worth watching, though, is not what it has won but how consistently it shows up in the frame. Over its last six races, the horse has finished out of the first three only once—that 10th-place effort at the start of the sequence. The rest of the time it has been third, third, third, third, or second, which suggests a horse with genuine ability that simply hasn't quite managed to find another gear when it matters. Trainer Charlie Longsdon, who runs a successful yard at Chipping Norton in Oxfordshire and has sent out 31 winners this season, has clearly kept the horse sound and competitive. When Freshers Week has been ridden by Lilly Pinchin—its regular jockey—it has won 1 of 5 races together, a 20% win rate that is noticeably better than its overall record. That partnership may be worth monitoring. The horse raced just a day ago and remains active, so there will be chances to see whether it can finally break through the placing barrier and find another win before the year is out.