Mythical Isle

The recent form makes for mixed reading. In its last six races, Mythical Isle has finished fourth, third, ninth, eighth, second, and seventh — which is about as up-and-down as it gets. The third and second suggest a horse capable of being right there when things click, but the ninth and eighth are significant dips. There is no clean upward curve here, just a horse that seems to run well one day and disappoint the next. It last raced just six days ago, so it is clearly being kept busy, which suggests the team at Patrick Morris's yard in Prescott, Merseyside, are trying to find the right opportunity.

Morris has had a productive season — 21 winners from his yard is a healthy return and shows this is a competent operation that knows how to get horses ready to perform. The regular partnership with jockey Paddy Bradley, however, has not clicked yet. Five races together and no wins is a combination still looking for its moment. At Class 6, the lowest tier of British racing, Mythical Isle has also drawn a blank in five attempts, which raises a genuine question: if it cannot win at this level, where does the team go next? Sometimes horses simply need the right race on the right day. Sometimes they need a change of approach entirely. For Mythical Isle, the answer is still out there somewhere.