Inferno

The recent form makes for interesting reading. Inferno has finished third, second, eleventh, fifth, third, and third in its last six races — that mid-sequence eleventh is the obvious blip, sandwiched between a string of placed efforts that suggest it was a one-off rather than a sign of anything troubling. Horses have bad days, just like people. What stands out is how consistently Inferno bounces back. Four times in seven races it has finished in the top three, which is the kind of persistence that keeps a trainer patient and an owner hopeful. It raced just one day ago, so it is clearly fit and active right now.

That trainer is Edward Bethell, based at Middleham in North Yorkshire — one of British racing's most historic training centres, a hilltop town where horses have been prepared for the track for over 300 years. Bethell's yard has sent out 61 winners already this season, which is a serious number. Running at roughly that kind of volume means this is a busy, confident operation that knows how to get horses ready to perform. When a yard is firing like that, you pay attention to anything they have on the track — including a three-year-old still chasing its first win.

The honest truth about Inferno is that it is at an interesting crossroads. Three-year-olds often take time to mature and find their best form, and the placed runs are evidence that the ability is there. Getting beaten is frustrating, but getting beaten consistently into the top three is actually a sign of quality. The question now is whether Inferno can convert one of those near-misses into a victory. With a trainer in the form of his life and a horse that has raced just yesterday and clearly thrives on racing, the first win might not be far off at all.