Northern Brave

The recent form tells the story. In its last six races, the horse has managed a second place and two thirds, but also struggled with an eighth and a seventh, suggesting it has good days and difficult ones. Trained by Michael Dods at Piercebridge in County Durham, Northern Brave is part of a yard that has been consistently competitive this season — Dods has already sent out 43 winners — yet this particular animal hasn't quite found the level where it can win regularly. The talent is clearly there: placing five times from nine races shows Northern Brave can run well against its rivals. But converting those near-misses into wins remains the puzzle. Still actively racing, it will need a return to form soon if it's to justify the investment and effort the yard has put in.