Parish Star

The overall numbers are modest: 2 wins and 3 places from 18 races, which works out at roughly 1 win in every 9. But zoom in on the last six races and the picture changes sharply — two wins, two placings, and only one real flop. That's the form of a horse in form, not one making up the numbers. The back-to-back wins at Newcastle in late January and Southwell in early February point to a horse that has settled into a rhythm, and a short break of 41 days since that Southwell victory shouldn't be a concern.

His best performances have come at Class 5 level — the kind of everyday, competitive racing that makes up the backbone of the British racing calendar. At that level he has won 2 of 9 races, roughly 1 in every 4-and-a-half, which is a solid return and tells you this is the grade where he belongs and can genuinely compete. Push him up in class and it becomes a different conversation, but keep him here and he is a realistic contender.

One slightly puzzling subplot is his record with regular jockey Lorcan Murtagh — zero wins from eight rides together. That's not a small sample. Given that Parish Star has now won twice, both those victories came with someone else in the saddle. That's worth noting, though it's for trainer Adam Nicol at Seahouses to weigh up. Nicol has had a productive season with 24 winners, so he clearly knows what he's doing, and a yard in that kind of form tends to be placing its horses thoughtfully.

Parish Star is not a glamorous horse — he won't be troubling the big festivals — but he's the kind of genuine, honest competitor that makes everyday racing worth following. Two wins from his last six races, a trainer in form, and a clear preference for the Class 5 level where he thrives: there's every reason to think his little purple patch isn't finished yet.