Havana Blast

That sole win came at Chelmsford on 31 August 2024, now 22 months ago, and nothing since has got close to matching it. The last six races read 2-4-3-2-10-6, which means Havana Blast has been in the frame twice in that stretch — finishing second and third — but has also had a couple of disappointing runs mixed in. It is the pattern of a horse hovering just below the level needed to win, competitive enough to keep the yard optimistic, but not quite sharp enough to get back to the top of the pile.

At Class 5, which is where most of these races have been run, the record is 1 win from 4 races — that is 25%, or one in four, which is actually a decent conversion rate at that level. The puzzle is why it hasn't translated into more winners. James Fanshawe, who trains Havana Blast from his Newmarket base in Suffolk, is having a productive season — 44 winners sent out already — so the support and the expertise are clearly there. Fanshawe is a patient, skilled handler, and a horse in this yard is in good hands.

Havana Blast raced just yesterday, which means this is a horse right in the thick of its season. Whether that recent run was another near-miss or a step backwards will matter a great deal for what comes next. The question hanging over the next few races is a familiar one for horses at this level: can it find the right race, on the right day, to end a 22-month drought? One win proves it can do it. The challenge now is doing it again.