Loup De Maulde

The wider career numbers are solid without being spectacular. Six wins and 17 placed efforts from 29 races, which works out at roughly 1 win in every 5 outings, tells you he is a horse that earns his keep. Trainer Robbie Llewellyn, based at Wroughton in Wiltshire, oversaw a remarkable improvement in the horse last season — he got 34lb better across the campaign, winning four races in the process. That kind of jump in ability, measured in official ratings, is unusual and speaks to good horsemanship. Llewellyn's yard has sent out 14 winners already this season, so the operation is clearly in form.

The puzzle right now is that Loup De Maulde has not won in his last six races, with his most recent victory coming at Taunton back in March 2024 — over two years ago. His recent form reads 7-2-3-4-4-7, which shows he is finishing in the frame but not quite getting his head in front. That second place, sandwiched between some mid-pack finishes, came at Huntingdon in a qualifying race for the prestigious Pertemps Final at the Cheltenham Festival — and it was enough to get him through. Llewellyn has said publicly that if the horse moves up in the weights he might get into the final, and that finishing fifth or sixth at Cheltenham would be a real achievement. For a horse competing mostly at the lower end of the sport, that would be a significant occasion.

One curiosity: regular jockey Jack Tudor has ridden him in 10 of his races without a single win together. That is not necessarily Tudor's fault — horses are complicated — but it is a number worth noting. Loup De Maulde is clearly still capable. He just needs a wet day and, ideally, a trip back to Huntingdon.