What stands out in the recent form is that Stepanov finished sixth in one of those six races, then essentially bounced straight back — the other five results are a string of seconds and thirds that suggest a horse running to a reliable level. Racing just one day ago, Stepanov is clearly in an active campaign right now, and the team will be hoping all that experience is building toward something.
The trainer is Edward Bethell, based in Middleham in North Yorkshire — a yard that has hit 61 winners already this season, which is a serious number and puts it among the more productive operations around. A trainer sending out that volume of winners clearly knows how to place horses well and get the best from them. The fact that Stepanov hasn't broken through yet is unlikely to be through lack of trying on the yard's part — finding the right race for a horse that keeps finishing second is a puzzle, but it's the kind of puzzle a busy, successful operation is well-equipped to solve.
At three years old, Stepanov has time on its side. Plenty of horses take a little while to graduate from consistent placer to winner, and the evidence here is of a horse that belongs in competitive races — it just needs one to fall its way.
| Course | Races | Results | Last run | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Newcastle Galloping |
1 | 1 other | 19 Dec | 0% |
| Wetherby Galloping |
1 | 1 second | 4 Jun | 0% |
| Southwell Galloping |
1 | 1 other | 11 Apr | 0% |
| Nottingham Galloping |
1 | 1 third | 19 May | 0% |
| Hamilton Park Sharp |
1 | 1 second | 17 Jun | 0% |
| Wolverhampton Galloping |
1 | 1 second | 24 Mar | 0% |