Grey Gamble

What makes the story worth following is the yard behind it. Emma Lavelle, based at Ogbourne Maizey in Wiltshire, has sent out 45 winners this season alone — that is a serious operation, and horses from her stable tend to improve with experience. A trainer running at that kind of volume does not persist with a horse without reason, and the fact that Grey Gamble raced just yesterday tells you it is fit, active, and still very much in the game plan.

At 5 years old, there is time on its side. Racing careers can turn quickly, and plenty of horses take several runs simply to learn the job. Whether Grey Gamble has enough ability to reward the patience being shown in it remains to be seen — but with a trainer of Lavelle's calibre in its corner, it would be premature to write it off just yet.