Mirabad

The story of Mirabad is really about ground and distance. Over 1 mile 6 furlongs to 2 miles, he has won 2 of his 4 races — a 50 per cent win rate that makes him genuinely effective at the trip. More striking still is his record on slightly soft ground: he has won all 3 races he has run on such surfaces. It is the kind of pattern that tells you exactly where to watch for him to run well. His last victory came at Aintree six months ago, and Skelton later explained the mood in the yard that day with rare colour — the trainer told his jockey Tristan Durrell beforehand to "go thieving, and nick what you can," suspecting Mirabad might not handle the ground at Bangor (where he has underperformed). At Aintree, he somehow delivered an unlikely success, one Skelton described as "amazing" after the race.

Recent form suggests he remains competitive. In his last six races, he has finished 2nd, then 1st, then 2nd again, interspersed with a couple of unplaced efforts. Last raced just a day ago, he is actively campaigned. Skelton's hesitation over running him in the Arkle — one of jump racing's biggest spring prizes — hints at realistic yard thinking: at this stage, with five or six strong runners already committed, the trainer was candid that Mirabad would be "more likely to go to Aintree" if the top race looked too crowded. It is the stance of a yard that knows what its horse can do and where it belongs.