Molinari

The most telling number, though, is the Class 4 record: just 1 win from 20 races at that level, a win rate of 1 in 20. Class 4 is squarely mid-table in British racing, and it's where Molinari spends most of its time. Winning only once at that level across two decades' worth of attempts there suggests this horse is competitive without quite having the edge to convert. Still, those 21 places are a reminder that "nearly" has been a recurring theme throughout this career.

The partnership with jockey David Nolan is worth noting. In 23 races together, they've won 4 times — a win rate of roughly 1 in every 6, which is significantly better than the horse's overall record. That's not a coincidence. When Nolan is in the saddle, something clearly clicks. Trainer Martin Todhunter operates out of Orton in Cumbria, a small yard that has punched out 9 winners this season — a solid return that shows the team knows how to get a horse ready to perform.

The last win came at Newcastle in November 2024, now 20 months ago, and recent form reading 8-4-10-2-3-7 shows a horse that flirted with a return to winning ways — that second and third in the sequence suggest a brief purple patch — but hasn't been able to close the deal. Racing just one day ago, Molinari remains very much active, and at 9 years old, there's an experienced, durable animal here. Whether another win is coming is the question. The ingredients — a familiar jockey, a trainer in form, and a horse that keeps showing up — are at least in place.