Saunton Surf

The real story, though, is a horse who keeps running just short of success. In her last six races she has shown a placed finish as recently as 13 days ago, with two fifth-place efforts either side. This is a runner who turns up and tries but gets caught just beyond the post or takes wrong turns on the day. Her trainer sees a horse with genuine jumping ability who works well at home — the ingredients are there — but notes she can be temperamental and may simply need the world arranged exactly right. A run at Ludlow last October when she was hampered while running on to second place hints at what might have been without the interference. Newcastle, her most recent outing just days ago, came too soon after the previous race and appears to have blunted her edge.

With two wins from five races on normal ground, Saunton Surf has a clear preference that should guide where she races next. She struggles in Class 4 company without a win from seven attempts there, and her partnership with James Bowen has yielded nothing from five rides. The trainer describes her as a work in progress, still being understood after arriving from the point-to-point ranks. She may well be a spring horse waiting for longer days and warmer ground. The talent is absolutely there — but like many horses who jump and work brilliantly at home, she needs to find consistency on the track.