Maharajas Express

The real story, though, is what has happened recently. Maharajas Express only last week claimed victory at Doncaster on 13 September, and in its last six races it has won twice — including that Doncaster success — and placed another two times. That kind of form matters. The horse is clearly in a good place mentally and physically right now, the kind of run that keeps a trainer interested and keeps a horse in the mix for bigger prizes. Ian Williams's yard at Portway in Worcestershire, which has sent out 96 winners this season alone, clearly knows how to get the best from its charges.

Dig into the conditions and a pattern emerges: Maharajas Express absolutely thrives on normal ground. On standard conditions it has won 3 races from 11 attempts — that is a 27% win rate, more than double its overall average. On wetter or faster ground, the horse struggles to reproduce that form. That kind of track preference is worth knowing. Dylan Hogan, the jockey most often in the saddle, has ridden the horse 11 times for 2 wins, a partnership that works but nothing more than that. What matters is that Maharajas Express, tested and honest, is still knocking on the door this week, still competing, still capable of finding the winner's circle.