Petes Diamond

The recent form figures tell a story of inconsistency without a silver lining. Reading right to left from the most recent race, the numbers go 17, 6, 11, 7, 14, 8 — big swings in finishing position, but nothing that suggests a breakthrough is imminent. A sixth-place finish sits in the middle of that run, which at least shows the horse can get competitive, but surrounding efforts finishing 17th and 11th suggest that might have been the exception rather than the rule. Petes Diamond raced just yesterday, so fitness is not the issue.

At Class 5, which is the lower end of the racing ladder, the horse has run three times without winning. That is a meaningful detail — these are the most accessible races in the sport, and even here Petes Diamond has not been able to find a way to the front. Trainer Joey Ramsden, based in Newark, Nottinghamshire, has sent out five winners this season, so the yard is clearly capable of getting horses to perform. Whether Ramsden can unlock something in this horse remains to be seen.

There is no reason to write off a three-year-old entirely — some horses simply take time to find their feet — but Petes Diamond will need to show something soon if it is to justify continued competition at any level.