Knightmare

The recent form tells an interesting story. Over the last six races, Knightmare has finished 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 3rd, and 5th — so it has been close, particularly those two runner-up finishes, but something always seems to go slightly wrong at the crucial moment. That said, it raced just yesterday and is clearly a horse that is being kept busy, which usually means the team believes there is a race to be won somewhere.

Where that race might come from is the puzzle. Knightmare has been sent out seven times in Class 6 — the lowest rung of British racing, where fields are typically full of horses in a similar position — and has drawn a blank in all seven. That is not catastrophic; plenty of horses take time to find their level or their ideal conditions. But it does mean the yard, which has sent out an impressive 37 winners this season, is still searching for the right opportunity to unlock this one. David Evans, based in Pandy in Monmouthshire, clearly knows how to get horses winning — 37 successes in a season is a healthy total for any training operation. The fact that Knightmare remains winless is not a reflection on the yard's ability, but it does suggest this particular horse needs something to click.

At four years old, there is still time. Some horses simply take longer to mature, or need a specific set of conditions to produce their best. Those placed efforts prove Knightmare is not out of its depth — it is finishing in the frame, just not at the front of it. Racing fans with a sentimental streak might find themselves rooting for a first win to arrive sooner rather than later.