Issam

What makes Issam genuinely interesting is how much it thrives in specific conditions and top-3 finishes. The horse absolutely loves wet or muddy ground, winning 4 of its last 9 outings on such surfaces — a 44% win rate that stands well clear of its overall numbers. At Exeter, Issam is practically a different horse: it has won 3 of only 5 races there, making it one of the courses where this horse runs at its best. Trained by Tom Symonds's yard at Hentland in Herefordshire, Issam competes mostly in Class 3 races, where it has won 5 of 13 starts. That is a win rate of roughly 2 in every 5 races — the level at which this horse is genuinely competitive.

Recent form has been encouraging. Issam won twice in its last six races and came back to the track eight weeks ago to win at Kempton Park on 2 February. The horse is still active and raced just 29 days ago, so it remains a live contender. Jordan Nailor, the jockey who has ridden Issam most often, has won 3 of 9 races together — a 33% win rate that is considerably better than asking price. For a horse of this class and age, Issam represents the sort of genuine, working racehorse that keeps jumping yards in business: reliable, improving in the conditions it likes, and capable of picking off races when everything lines up.