Mister Ursus

The horse's recent form tells a story of resilience. He won two of his last six races, including a victory at Perth on 23 April, but has since struggled to recapture that touch. His last six runs read 3-1-1-2-2-4, meaning he has had some near-misses — three top-3 finishes in his past four races — without quite getting back to the winner's circle. That fourth-place finish came just yesterday, suggesting he is being campaigned actively by trainer Olly Murphy's Wilmcote yard, which has already sent out 146 winners this season.

Where Mister Ursus has room to prove himself is in the tougher races. At Class 4 level — a step up in competition — he has not yet won, with a record of zero wins from three attempts at that grade. This is not unusual for a horse of his profile, but it hints at a ceiling. He appears to be a solid operator in mid-tier races, someone who will give backers value more often than not, but perhaps not quite the horse to elevate himself into the top tier of racing. Still, with two wins and five top-3 finishes in just six races, he remains a horse that turns up and competes on race day.