Leadman

The raw numbers tell a story of tantalising inconsistency. Across 25 races, Leadman has won just 2 — that's roughly 1 in every 12 races — but he has placed a further 10 times, meaning he has finished in the frame in nearly half his career outings. He's rarely miles off the pace, but turning promise into victory has been the challenge. His most trusted partner in the saddle, Daniel Tudhope, has ridden him seven times without a win between them, which is the kind of statistic that makes you wonder whether a change of jockey has been doing him some good lately.

On fast, dry ground, however, Leadman becomes a different proposition. He has won 2 of his 10 races in those conditions — a 20% win rate, or roughly 1 in every 5 outings — which is a genuinely strong record at his level. His most recent victory came at Doncaster just three weeks ago, and his last six results include a win and a second, suggesting he is in the form of his life right now. He raced again just yesterday, which tells you this is a horse being kept busy while conditions and confidence are aligned.

O'Meara's yard has been in exceptional shape this season, sending out 101 winners already, so Leadman is operating within a team that clearly knows how to place a horse to best effect. He typically competes at Class 3 level — solid, competitive racing one rung below the top tier — and has won 1 of his 7 races at that grade. Not a star, but no pushover either. Keep him on a fast surface and in form, and he is a horse worth watching.