Gallant

His most recent win came on 5 June at Lingfield Park, but that was now fourteen months in the past. Since then, nothing. His last six races have produced a sixth-place finish, a third, two sevenths, and an eleventh, interspersed with a non-runner. It is a dry spell that suggests either the races have been too difficult, or Gallant himself has lost some of whatever spark made him dangerous at Class 4. The fact that he was last out just a day ago shows the yard is still trying to find a race where he can break through again.

The one bright spot in his recent profile is his partnership with jockey Oisin Murphy. Together, they have won 2 of their 6 races—a 33% win rate that is far above Gallant's overall record. This suggests that when Murphy is in the saddle and the race is pitched correctly, Gallant can still deliver. Trainer Oli Rix, based at Newmarket, has managed only 3 winners from his yard this season, so he will be keenly aware that getting Gallant back to the winners' enclosure would be valuable for both horse and stable. The challenge is finding the right Class 4 race to make it happen.