Paborus

The horse broke through in early May this year at Redcar, then built on that foundation steadily before notching a Class 2 victory at Southwell on the artificial surface just over a week ago. That win matters because Class 2 races sit near the very top of the ladder — these are proper races against proper horses. To be winning at that level at five years old, and to be doing it this consistently, suggests there is real quality here.

The partnership between Paborus and jockey Callum Rodriguez has been especially fruitful. They have ridden together six times, and Rodriguez has steered the horse to victory on four of those occasions — a 67% win rate that speaks to genuine understanding between rider and horse. The trainer E Bethell, based at Middleham in North Yorkshire, has built a strong yard this season with 61 winners already sent out. That kind of success across the board suggests the team knows what they are doing when it comes to getting a horse ready and in the right frame of mind.

With just eight weeks between its last outing and today, Paborus remains active and clearly part of the trainer's regular racing plans. This is a horse that has every chance of climbing even higher, and with Rodriguez in the saddle and Bethell's yard behind it, it will not want for quality guidance.