Macanudo

The puzzle is that Macanudo hasn't won in nearly two and a half years. His recent form shows someone treading water: his last six races brought a seventh, a third, a tenth, another seventh, a fourth, and a sixth. That third-place finish was a glimmer, but he has otherwise been going backwards or holding position at the lower end of the field. When he steps up to Class 4 company — one of the top grades — he has managed zero wins from 10 attempts, which confirms he is a Class 5 horse at best.

The partnership with jockey Ryan Kavanagh has produced nothing either: nine rides together, zero wins. Macanudo races for the yard of Ian Williams at Portway in Worcestershire, a trainer who has sent out 96 winners this season and clearly knows how to get horses to the front — just not this one. It says something that in an active, competent yard, Macanudo remains stuck in the chasing pack. He raced just yesterday, so the yard are still looking for that elusive second victory. At five years old and still hunting for another win after 30 months of trying, time may be running out.