Imperial Sovereign

What makes the picture more complicated is where Imperial Sovereign tends to compete. Seven of its races have been at Class 2 level, which means some of the better races in Britain, and it has not won any of them. That is not necessarily a damning fact — Class 2 fields are genuinely strong, and finishing in the places at that level still requires real ability — but it does suggest a horse that is competitive enough to be entered in good company without quite being able to beat it.

The seven placed finishes across its career are worth noting. They show a horse that runs honestly and turns up, even if the victories have not followed. Recent form reads 2-4-6-7-3-4, which tells its own story: a second and a third are in there, but so are some mid-field efforts that suggest Imperial Sovereign blows hot and cold. It raced just yesterday, so it is clearly in an active campaign right now.

Clifford Lee has been the regular partner in the saddle, riding the horse six times and winning once together — that is 1 from 6, or roughly 1 in every 6 rides, which is actually a healthier conversion rate than the overall career record suggests. The training is handled by Philip Kirby, whose yard at East Appleton in North Yorkshire has been in solid form this season, sending out 36 winners. Kirby clearly knows how to get horses ready to win, which makes the search for Imperial Sovereign's second career victory feel less like a long shot and more like a matter of finding the right opportunity.