King Kodiak

What stands out is that he hasn't been disgraced. Three placed finishes from twelve races tells you this is a horse that competes, that runs his race, that gets involved. He just hasn't been able to get his nose in front when it counts. His recent form shows a horse bang in the mix — third, third, third in three of his last six outings — but also a couple of fifths and one troubled run back in eleventh, which suggests he can have his off days like any athlete.

He's been partnered almost exclusively by Jonathon Bewley, who has ridden him in nine of his twelve races without that elusive breakthrough. That's a real commitment from the yard — George Bewley, who trains King Kodiak out of Colby in Cumbria, has clearly been patient with this horse and kept faith in the same rider. The Bewley yard has sent out six winners this season, so they know how to get a horse to the winner's enclosure. The fact that King Kodiak hasn't joined that list yet isn't through lack of trying.

He competes at Class 4 level — solid, competitive racing, not the very top tier but not a pushover either. Six races at that level, six times without winning. At some point the question becomes whether King Kodiak is a horse who places well and earns his keep, or whether the right race and the right day simply hasn't arrived yet. He raced just yesterday, so clearly the yard — sorry, the team — still believe there's a performance worth chasing. At seven, he's not young, but horses can surprise you. For now, King Kodiak is the nearly-horse, always honest, never quite first.