Matteo

The shape of recent races tells an interesting story. Matteo's last two runs were both victories, both coming at Beverley in April and May, but then things went quiet. The horse has raced three times since that last win on 30 May, finishing eighth, eighth, and seventh — a frustrating run that suggests the yard may have been searching for the right conditions or the right race. But Matteo is active and racing now, having run just a day ago, so there is clearly confidence the horse will find its form again.

Kevin Ryan's Hambleton yard is one of the sharpest training operations in the country. Forty-five winners already this season speaks to a team that knows how to prepare horses to win, and Matteo fits the profile of the kind of progressive young horse the yard does well with. The challenge now is getting that winning form back on track. Two wins from five races is a platform to build from, not a ceiling — but the recent form suggests Matteo needs to find a race where it clicks again.