Spaceage Love Song

What's encouraging is the recent form. Scroll back through the last six runs and the picture brightens considerably: after a pair of disappointing seventh-place finishes, Spaceage Love Song reeled off a win followed by two runner-up spots. That's a horse finding its feet and building some momentum, which matters far more than the modest overall record. Trained by Michael Bell out of Newmarket — a yard that has sent out 44 winners already this season, so clearly knows how to get horses performing — there's every reason to think this horse is heading in the right direction.

The key to unlocking it seems to be distance. Over longer trips of a mile and three-quarters to two miles, Spaceage Love Song wins 1 in every 5 races — 20% from five attempts at those trips. That's a dramatic improvement on its overall numbers, and it tells you something important: this is a horse that needs time to warm up and settle into a rhythm. Cramped, quick races over shorter distances don't suit it. Get it out over a proper test of stamina, and it becomes a very different animal.

It operates mainly at Class 6, the entry level of British racing, winning 1 from 9 at that level (11%). There's no shame in that — plenty of horses spend their whole careers competing at this level — but it does set realistic expectations. Spaceage Love Song isn't a big-occasion horse chasing glory at top-level races. It's a honest, workmanlike competitor that races frequently and, on its best days over the right distance, is genuinely competitive. With good recent form and a trainer in fine fettle, another win before the season is out looks very much within reach.