Padua

The horse performs noticeably better at distances between seven furlongs and a mile, winning 1 of his 6 races over that range — a 17% win rate that stands out against his overall record. More encouraging still, in races at the fourth-tier Class 4 level, Padua has won 1 of his 4 attempts, a 25% success rate that hints he may be better suited to slightly lower competition. His recent form, though, has been frustrating: over his last six races he has managed just a couple of placed efforts and nothing better, suggesting he may be going through a lean spell.

Trainer Hughie Morrison, based at East Ilsley in Berkshire, has a yard in good form this season with twenty winners to date. Morrison's comments suggest Padua nearly won on his debut at Lingfield in November when sent off at long odds, and ran a solid race on his spring comeback at Kempton. The trainer appears to be waiting for the right ground conditions and race to suit him. Padua last raced just a day ago and remains an active runner — still in work and still being given opportunities to find his way back to the winner's circle.