Rickety Bridge

What makes this particularly interesting is the company it keeps. Rickety Bridge competes almost exclusively in Class 2 races — among the better contests in Britain — and has tried three of them without success. That is not a shameful record. These are serious races against serious horses, and simply running competitively in them means the yard believes this horse has genuine ability. That yard, of course, is Paul Nicholls' operation in Ditcheat, Somerset, one of the most powerful training setups in the country. Ninety-two winners sent out this season alone tells you this is not a team that runs horses for the fun of it.

Freddie Gingell has been the regular partner, riding Rickety Bridge five times together without a win between them. That is a patient combination still waiting for its moment. The horse raced just yesterday, so it is fit, active, and presumably still being targeted at the right opportunity. With Nicholls in the corner, that opportunity will be chosen carefully. The question is whether Rickety Bridge can take it when it comes.