Robusto

His recent form tells the story of a horse still capable on his day but no longer dominant. In his last six races he has won twice — most recently at Leicester just this week — but he has also finished well down the field, including an eighth place finish that suggests his window for competitive racing may be gradually closing. The win at Leicester came after a quiet spell, and his trainer Eve Johnson Houghton has noted that he picked up a joint problem that required a recovery period. He will likely be given time before his next outing, a sign that at six years old, campaigning him now requires patience and careful management.

Luke Morris has ridden him six times and won twice — a 33 per cent win rate with the jockey that stands out against his overall record. Robusto has also shown a knack for Lingfield Park, winning 2 of his 6 races there, a real edge in a specialist sense. However, his record in the more competitive Class 4 races tells a sobering truth: 1 win from 19 attempts. This is the level where he most often races, and his success rate there underlines why those recent victories, however welcome, remain sporadic rather than routine. For a horse now in his sixth season and carrying an injury history, Robusto remains a decent operator, but his best days may well be behind him.