Real Gain

That winless run looks even harder to explain when you look at where Real Gain has been running. Six races at Class 2 level — among the top races in Britain — and not a single win to show for it. At that level, even finishing in the frame is an achievement, and Real Gain has done that, but the horse that once looked like it had a big future has not yet delivered on that promise at the highest tier.

What makes this horse interesting, though, is the relationship with jockey Finley Marsh. In 6 races together, they have won 3 times — a win rate of exactly 50%, or 1 in every 2. That is a remarkable number. It suggests something genuine clicks between rider and horse, and it is the kind of statistic that makes you wonder whether getting the right pilot back in the saddle could change things.

Trainer Hamad Al Jehani, based at the famous racing centre of Newmarket in Suffolk, has always spoken warmly about Real Gain. Early in the horse's career he described it as "very talented" despite a tricky draw on debut, and after a later win he was emphatic — calling Real Gain "certainly" one of the good ones, pointing to the way the horse stuck its head out when the race got serious. That instinct to fight when it matters is precisely what separates a useful horse from a great one. The yard has sent out 18 winners this season, so it is in form — and Real Gain raced just yesterday, meaning this is very much an ongoing story rather than a closed chapter.

The big question now is whether the horse can rediscover that winning feeling at the top level, or whether the Class 2 ceiling is proving one step too far.