Methgal

Trained by Dylan Cunha at Newmarket, Methgal clearly benefits from being in a yard that knows how to place its runners shrewdly. Cunha has sent out 45 winners already this season, which means Methgal is part of an operation with serious form. Recent racing backs this up: the horse won at Kempton Park just three weeks ago, and before that was placed at its previous start. When a horse is racing this frequently and staying competitive, it usually means the trainer sees enough there to keep it in work.

Distance matters a lot for Methgal. Over 5 furlongs to 6½ furlongs, the horse has won twice from six races—a win rate of one in three—which is substantially better than its overall figures. This is the sweet spot where Methgal appears to handle the demands best. Conor Cusack, who rides the horse most regularly, has won once from five efforts together, a respectable partnership. The real story is the recent upturn in form. A horse that has won twice in its last six races and keeps finding the frame is either improving or has found conditions that suit it. Either way, Methgal is very much in the conversation right now.