Raffles Nobu

The win came three months ago, and since then Raffles Nobu has run six times without another victory. The recent form is mixed: a seventh place, a fifth, a second, a third, and another fifth, with one race not recorded. That second-place finish shows the horse still has moments where it gets close to winning again, but consistency has been elusive. At Class 4 level—the sort of race where a good horse should be winning regularly—Raffles Nobu has managed nothing from five attempts, which tells you it is operating right at the ceiling of its ability.

Trained by Nick Scholfield at his Lambourn yard, Raffles Nobu is one of 22 winners the stable has sent out this season, so the yard knows how to find the winner's enclosure. The horse is still actively racing, having run just yesterday, so there is clearly life in it yet. For a horse with a single win from 23 races, staying in training at six years old is a testament to its honest approach—it keeps turning up and keeps competing, even if the big moments come rarely. Raffles Nobu may never be a prolific winner, but it has earned its place in the yard through sheer willingness to keep trying.