Mighty Vega

The most interesting aspect of his form is his preference for races over seven furlongs to a mile. In races at that distance, he has won twice from seven attempts — a 29 per cent win rate — which is significantly better than his overall figures. This gives his trainer, Scott Dixon at Rolleston in Nottinghamshire, a clear pattern to work with. Away from that sweet spot, however, Mighty Vega struggles. At other distances he has managed just one win from eleven races, which suggests he lacks the speed for shorter courses and perhaps the stamina for longer ones.

His recent run has been stuttering. Over his last six races he has managed one win and two places, with several blank days. That win came on 26 May at Lingfield Park, now four months in the past, and since then he has failed to find the winner's circle. Most recently, a day ago, he raced without success, which suggests the yard are still confident enough to keep him active and looking for another opportunity. At Class 5 level — the bottom rung of the racing ladder — he has won once from six races, which is simply par for the course. This is the grade where Mighty Vega belongs, and unless his form improves noticeably, he is unlikely to climb much higher.