Gone With The Tide

The most recent form figures tell a bleak story: a fourth place a few runs back is the closest thing to a highlight, sandwiched between a string of single-digit finishes that suggest a horse who competes without ever threatening. That fourth is, remarkably, the best result of its career. Jamie Hamilton has stuck with the partnership longer than most jockeys would — seven races together — but has yet to find a way to unlock anything more from a horse that, so far, simply hasn't delivered at any level. Class 4 races are not the most demanding contests in the calendar, sitting well below the top tier, yet Gone With The Tide has failed to win in four attempts even there.

What makes this worth watching — if anything — is that the horse raced just yesterday and is still active. Nine runs is not a huge sample, and some horses take time to find their feet. But at seven years old, time is no longer entirely on its side, and the pattern of finishes offers little to suggest a breakthrough is imminent. For now, Gone With The Tide remains one of racing's more stubborn unsolved questions.