Ghost Pepper

The recent form makes for grim reading. In its last six races, Ghost Pepper has recorded two sixth-place finishes, a seventh, and another sixth, with two runs that didn't produce a finishing position at all. There's no upward curve here, no sign of a horse slowly finding its feet. It raced just yesterday, so at least enthusiasm isn't the problem — but results remain elusive.

Competing mainly at Class 5 — the lower end of the racing ladder, where horses are given the best possible chance to win — Ghost Pepper has still not managed a victory in five attempts at that level. That's the detail that will concern the Brace yard most. Class 5 is where horses like this are supposed to find their moment, and so far that moment hasn't come. David Brace has sent out two winners this season, so the yard is capable of getting a horse to the line first. Ghost Pepper just hasn't been that horse yet.