Lil Wade

The recent form makes for tough reading. Over the last six runs, the best result has been a fifth, bookended by finishes of thirteenth on either side. That is the story of a horse that occasionally shows a flicker and then disappears into the pack. Jockey Kieran O'Neill has been in the saddle for eight of those races and is yet to ride Lil Wade to a win, a combination that has tried and tried without reward.

What makes this interesting, in a quietly absorbing way, is the level at which Lil Wade operates. Class 6 is the entry level of British Flat racing — the bottom rung — and even there, across 28 races, not a single victory has come. That is not a quirk of bad luck. It tells you that this is a horse running at the easiest level available and still finding rivals who are marginally sharper on the day. Three place finishes from 28 races at that level works out to just over 1 in every 9 runs ending with a minor cheque.

None of this reflects poorly on trainer Scott Dixon's operation in Rolleston, Nottinghamshire. The yard has sent out 33 winners this season, which is a healthy return, and Lil Wade is clearly the project rather than the flagship. Dixon keeps the horse in work and competitive, which in itself takes effort and belief. Lil Wade raced just one day ago, so whatever else you might say, it is not short of opportunity. Whether that opportunity eventually becomes a first win remains the question that 34 races have so far left unanswered.