Ravenscraig Castle

The numbers tell a bleak story in one light and a glimmer of potential in another. He has not won in 14 months — since that Perth victory — and he loses about 98 out of every 100 races. But over long distances of two miles or more, where he seems to relax and find his stride, he has won 1 of his 16 races — a six percent win rate that stands out against his flat zero percent return at Class 4 level. His regular jockey Andrew Mullen has drawn a blank across 17 rides together, which suggests the partnership may need rethinking. What is striking, though, is his consistency at finishing in the placings; with 17 minor placings across his career, he is the definition of honest without being brilliant. He raced just a day ago and remains active, still in the hands of Jardine at Carrutherstown.

The trainer has not given up, and nor should we. Jardine suspects a move to steeplechasing could unlock something different — possibly at tracks like Musselburgh, where smaller fences suit a horse of his temperament. He also runs better fresh, which suggests the key to further improvement may lie in better spacing between races and a change of scenery. Ravenscraig Castle is unlikely ever to set the racing world alight, but that single Perth win proved he can do it. Whether he does again depends on finding the right puzzle pieces.