Ice Cold Alex

The horse typically races at Class 2 level, where he has failed to win any of his three attempts, suggesting he finds the elite company demanding. His recent form reads 12-13-8-12, 4 — a mix of mid-field finishes and one top-3 effort just days ago. Cam Hardie, his most regular jockey, has ridden him eight times and won once together, a 12 percent win rate that mirrors the horse's overall profile: capable but not prolific. Trainer Ollie Pears, based at Norton in North Yorkshire, has saddled nine winners this season, so the yard is firing on all cylinders even if Ice Cold Alex remains a work in progress.

What stands out is the length of time since that Pontefract win — 18 months is a long drought for a young horse, and it suggests he has found life tougher at higher levels or struggled to recapture that early spark. He is still in action, though, which means the yard and the yard believe there is more to come. Whether Ice Cold Alex can find another winner remains to be seen, but for now he remains a horse trying to turn occasional promise into something more regular.