Ghost Pepper

The recent form figures tell a bleak story. In the last six races, Ghost Pepper has finished sixth twice, seventh once, and pulled up or was beaten out of sight in the other three. There is no upward curve here, no sign of a horse finding its feet. And then, four months ago, it disappeared from the track entirely. Whether that break was planned or forced by a setback, we do not know — but horses often return from a long absence either transformed or rusty, and with Ghost Pepper, the honest answer is that there is no form to suggest which way this will go.

Most of its racing has come at Class 5, which is the bottom tier of British racing — the kind of races designed specifically for horses that have struggled to win at higher levels. Even there, Ghost Pepper has managed nothing from five attempts. That is not a horse that is unlucky or just needs the right conditions. That is a horse that, so far, has found even modest competition a step too far.

D J Jeffreys trains from a small yard in Hinton on the Green, Worcestershire, and has sent out three winners this season — a modest but respectable return for an operation of that size. It is not a powerhouse stable, but small yards can spring surprises, and the fact that Ghost Pepper is still in training suggests the team believes there is something worth persevering with. Whether that faith is justified remains the central question. Returning from a four-month break into a field of experienced rivals, Ghost Pepper will need to show something it has never yet shown on a racecourse: the ability to compete.