Krak

What is striking about Krak's recent form is how close it has come without breaking through. In its last six races, it has finished second twice and third once—the kind of narrow misses that fuel hope in racing. The horse was last seen just a day ago, staying active and getting regular opportunities, which at least suggests the yard still believes there is more to come. Trained by Dan Skelton's powerful Alcester operation, which has already sent out 198 winners this season, Krak is in a yard built on finding winners. Its most frequent partner in the saddle is jockey J J Slevin, with whom it has recorded 1 win from 6 races—a 17% win rate, notably better than its overall record. When the two have worked together, something clicks; when ridden by others, the picture is less bright. That gap hints that Krak may be a horse that suits a particular rider's style.

The puzzle with Krak is the gap between Class 3 racing—where it has yet to win in three attempts—and the lower grades where it broke through. It may be simply a horse that has found its level and will continue to pick up minor prizes at smaller meetings, the kind of reliable campaigner that keeps the entry fees ticking over without ever threatening the big time. At six years old, Krak has time to find another win, but the seventeen-month drought since Cork suggests that breakthrough may have been the peak.