Skibo

The recent form figures — 7, 3, 2, 7, 3, 3 — paint a clear picture. Skibo has finished second or third in four of the last six races, including a runner-up spot that suggests a win is not far away. The two sevenths are the outliers; on its better days, this horse is competitive and consistent. Racing at Class 4 level, which is mid-tier racing in Britain, Skibo has yet to convert that consistency into a victory in four attempts at that grade. At some point the pieces have to come together.

What gives the situation a genuine sense of optimism is who is doing the training. Ralph Beckett's yard at Kimpton in Hampshire has sent out 109 winners already this season — that is the output of a stable firing on all cylinders. Beckett is one of the more respected handlers in British racing, and having a horse that places regularly in his care, at a yard in that kind of form, is about as good a position as an unbeaten horse can be in. Skibo raced just one day ago, so the team are clearly keeping the horse busy and looking for the right opportunity. With four placings already banked and a trainer in red-hot form behind the scenes, the first win might not be far off.