Maclaine

His record at Class 4 — essentially the bread-and-butter level of British racing, one step below the big occasions — is where he does his best work. Two wins from 10 races at that level, a win rate of 1 in every 5, suggests he belongs there and can be genuinely dangerous when conditions fall right. His first win came at Fontwell Park in November 2022, and his most recent at Newbury in March 2024, now 25 months ago. That gap is worth noting — he hasn't won in over two years — but his recent form figures of 4-5-7-1-5-2 show a horse that ran out a winner not long before that sequence began and has continued placing regularly since.

Jockey Harry Bannister has been his most regular partner, riding him in 5 of his 14 races and winning 1 of them — a 20% win rate together, which is actually better than Maclaine's overall career average. That suggests the partnership works, and when the two line up together, it's worth paying attention.

Richard J Bandey trains Maclaine from a yard in Tadley, Hampshire, and this has been a productive season for the team — 14 winners sent out already, which speaks to a stable in decent form. Maclaine himself raced just one day ago, meaning he is right in the thick of an active campaign. A horse still being aimed at races at nine, and trained by a yard firing on all cylinders, is one whose the yard clearly feel there is still a performance worth chasing. Whether that elusive third win comes soon or not, Maclaine remains a reliable, competitive sort at his level — and in racing, that counts for plenty.