Paps Of Jura

What makes this particularly tough reading is that Paps Of Jura has been doing its racing at Class 6, which is the lowest tier of British racing — the level where horses who haven't been winning elsewhere come to find races they can be competitive in. And yet, even here, the record reads zero wins from three attempts at that level. Finishing fourth is the best it has managed in its last six outings, which at least suggests there is some ability there, but ability and results are two very different things.

Trainer S Thomas, based in Lisvane in South Glamorgan, has had a decent season — 23 winners sent out is a solid return for a yard of this size. That context is worth noting: this is clearly a stable that knows how to get a horse ready to win. The fact that Paps Of Jura hasn't managed it yet isn't down to a lack of preparation. Some horses simply take longer to click, and some never quite do. Paps Of Jura raced just yesterday, so there is no shortage of opportunity being given here.

At five years old, time is not entirely against this horse, but the window for a breakthrough is not infinite either. Eleven races without a win or even a placed finish is a significant gap to close. The optimist would point to that fourth-place finish and argue the horse is knocking on the door. The realist would note that in eleven attempts, the door hasn't opened once.