Masekela

The recent form tells a more interesting story than the bare record suggests. In the last six races, Masekela has finished second twice and third once — so it is not a horse that trails in at the back of the field. It keeps finding its way into the places. The frustrating truth is that "nearly" does not pay the bills, and 0 wins from 34 races means this horse has never once crossed the line first. That is a long wait.

What makes the situation stranger still is where Masekela has been asked to compete. Eight of those 34 races have come at the very top level — Class 1, the elite end of the sport. Winning at that level is extraordinarily hard; these are the races that attract the best horses in the country. Going winless at Class 1 is no disgrace, but it does raise questions about whether the targeting has always been quite right.

James Moffatt trains the horse from his yard in Cartmel, Cumbria, and the stable is clearly in decent form — 11 winners already this season. Regular rider David Allan has had seven attempts on Masekela without a win, though neither man will be short of confidence given how consistently the horse places. Moffatt has spoken warmly about Masekela, describing him as well handicapped and suited to a mile and a half, and he has made clear the plan is to aim the horse at the bigger meetings rather than take easier options. That ambition is admirable, though it may partly explain why the win column remains empty.

Masekela is not a horse anyone should write off. It competes at the highest level, finishes placed regularly, and raced as recently as yesterday. Some horses take a long time to win, and some never do. The ones that keep showing up and finishing second are, in their own way, the most compelling to follow.