Monks Mead

What makes Monks Mead worth watching is where he races best. The mile and three to mile and four furlong distance is his sweet spot—he has won 1 of 8 races at that trip, a 12 percent win rate that stands well above his overall average. He also thrives in Class 6 races, the lowest tier of competitive racing, where he has won 3 of 29 starts, a 10 percent win rate that shows he belongs in that company. His last win came at Lingfield Park on 21 January this year, seven months ago now, suggesting a decent stretch without a victory but not an alarming drought for a horse of his class.

Trained by Mark Usher at Upper Lambourn in Berkshire, Monks Mead has had most of his rides from jockey George Bass, with whom he has managed just 1 win from 14 races together. That mirrors his overall form—solid rather than sparkling. The yard itself has been sharp this season with 14 winners, which means Monks Mead exists in a reasonably successful operation even if he is not its star attraction. He is the kind of horse that earns his keep through modest but steady effort, the racing equivalent of a reliable workhorse.