Sponsor

The recent form figures of 9-10-10-3-4-9 tell an honest story. There was a flicker of promise in the middle of that sequence — fourth and then third — but Sponsor hasn't been able to build on those performances, drifting back to the rear of the field most recently. For context, a horse that has placed just once in six races and never won has yet to prove it belongs in the mix at the finish. That doesn't mean the penny can't drop, especially at three years old, when horses are still learning their trade.

On the positive side, Sponsor is trained by Brian Meehan at his Manton base in Wiltshire, a yard that has sent out 12 winners already this season. Meehan is an experienced handler, and a stable in that kind of form knows how to get a horse ready to perform. The fact that Sponsor raced just one day ago shows the team are keeping it active, which sometimes reflects a belief that a better result is just around the corner. Whether this horse can finally find its way to the winner's enclosure remains to be seen, but with a capable yard behind it and youth on its side, the story isn't finished yet.