Ned Broy

The encouraging sign is what that one victory tells us. At distance—two miles and beyond—Ned looks a different proposition entirely, winning 1 of his 4 races over that trip, a 25 percent win rate that stands out against his overall numbers. It suggests he has a clear preference and a genuine strength. The problem is finding those long-distance races and catching him on the right day. His trainer, Iain Jardine, runs a busy operation at Carrutherstown that has sent out 57 winners this season, so the yard knows how to train horses to win. But Ned's recent form has been patchy at best. When he steps up to the higher-class races—Class 5 level—he has yet to break his duck, going 0 for 3, which hints that he may have found his ceiling. Still active and racing regularly, Ned remains a horse with a clear best trip and surface, waiting for another opportunity to prove that Newcastle success was more than a one-off.