Mystical Storm

Earlier this year, Mystical Storm had a minor procedure that appears to have made a real difference. After disappointing in his early races, Camacho identified the issue and got him sorted. That fix worked: he won at Doncaster in July over six furlongs, and then again this week at Southwell on 26 September—his second and most recent success. Over shorter distances (five to six and a half furlongs), he has won 1 of his 3 races, a win rate of roughly one in three, which suggests he may have found a distance where he genuinely belongs.

The flip side is plain to see. He struggles badly in better-class racing: zero wins from six attempts in Class 4, the type of races where serious horses earn their keep. His recent form line—1-3-6-10-9-8 over his last six races—shows a brief high point at Southwell but mostly mid-field finishes. Even with regular jockey Ryan Sexton, the pair have managed just one win from ten outings together. Camacho clearly rates him, calling him "my trainer's pick," and she seems keen to test him over seven furlongs at York if the conditions suit. Whether that ambition pays off will tell us whether he is genuinely on the up or simply a horse best suited to lower-grade racing over shorter ground.