Knightmare

What makes this particularly striking is the level at which Knightmare is competing. Class 6 is the bottom rung of British racing — these are the races specifically designed to give horses like this a winnable opportunity — and yet Knightmare has gone seven races at that level without once getting its nose in front. A horse that cannot win at the easiest level available has a very narrow path forward.

That said, trainer David Evans is doing plenty right elsewhere. His yard at Pandy in Monmouthshire has sent out 37 winners already this season, which is a genuinely productive operation. Evans clearly knows how to get horses winning — Knightmare just has not been one of them yet. The horse raced as recently as yesterday, so the yard are clearly still trying, and the second place in recent form at least shows it can be competitive. Whether that near-miss eventually translates into a win is the question Knightmare keeps leaving unanswered.