McGregors Charge

The pattern of recent form reinforces the struggle. In its last six outings, McGregors Charge has managed just one finish in the frame—a third place—with a fourth coming twice and a fifth once. It finished outside the top four on three occasions, suggesting that even minor placings have become harder to come by. Ben Godfrey, who has ridden the horse 12 times, has never crossed the line in front aboard it, a partnership that has yielded only the occasional place but no winning moments.

Trainer Polly Gundry, based near Ottery St Mary in Devon, works with a modest yard that has produced four winners this season. McGregors Charge competes primarily in Class 5 races—the lower rungs of the ladder—where it has won once from 13 attempts, an 8% win rate that stands slightly better than its overall record but still speaks to a horse that finds life difficult. For a horse that was raced actively enough to have 23 career starts, and one that is still being run regularly enough to have raced just a day ago, McGregors Charge appears to be a game but limited performer, the sort of horse that livens a small race when it gets its head in front but spends most of its time in the chasing pack.