Kadjar Des Mottes

The recent run of form tells a familiar story. In the last six races, there have been two finishes that caught the eye — a second place and a fourth — but also three results where Kadjar Des Mottes didn't feature at all. That second place is the tantalising detail: close enough to suggest a win is theoretically possible, but frustrating enough that it will have left plenty of people wondering when, or whether, it will ever arrive.

The partnership with jockey Theo Gillard has been given a real chance to develop, with seven races together — a significant chunk of the horse's career — and yet it still reads as zero wins from seven. That's not a criticism of either horse or rider; some partnerships just haven't found the right day yet. What it does tell you is that the yard, run by Donald McCain out of Cholmondeley in Cheshire, clearly has faith in this combination. McCain's operation is in decent health this season — 55 winners sent out is a healthy total, meaning the stable knows how to get a horse winning. The fact that Kadjar Des Mottes hasn't broken through yet is more about the horse than the training.

It typically races at Class 4 level, which sits in the middle of the British racing ladder — not the bargain basement, but not the top table either. Nine of its 13 races have come at that level, and it has won none of them. That's a 0 from 9 record at its most common level of competition, which is hard to dress up. Kadjar Des Mottes raced just yesterday, so the yard — the team around the horse — will at least know exactly where things stand heading into whatever comes next. The question, as it has been throughout this horse's career, is simply: can it win? It has shown it can get close. Getting over the line is another matter entirely.