L'Empire Vert

The recent record tells a story of mixed luck. A fourth-place finish just a day ago was preceded by a second and a fourth, but before that came a win and an eighth, suggesting the horse runs well some days and struggles on others. That last victory came back in April at Ffos Las, six months ago now, which is a long gap. The longer distances suit it best — over a mile and six furlongs to two miles, L'Empire Vert has won 1 of 4 races, a 25 percent rate that stands out against its overall 14 percent. This is a horse that likes to settle into a rhythm over time rather than being hurried along.

Sheila Lewis trains the horse from Brecon in Wales, a small yard that has produced four winners this season. Sean Houlihan has been the regular jockey, but the partnership hasn't clicked yet — nine rides together without a win suggests they may not be ideally matched. That missing link between horse and rider, especially after six months without a breakthrough, could be worth watching. If Lewis finds the right conditions and the right jockey gets a leg up, there may still be another win or two waiting for L'Empire Vert at the tracks where it runs its best racing.