Ten Sixty Six

The recent form, however, is where the concern sits. Those two encouraging second-place finishes have given way to a pair of ninths, which suggests the horse may still be finding its feet — or finding its level. A third place sandwiched in there offers a sliver of hope, but the overall picture at Class 5 — the entry-level tier of British racing — is nought from three, which means Ten Sixty Six hasn't yet managed to beat even the more modestly rated horses it's been competing against.

The yard behind it, though, is no small operation. David O'Meara trains out of Upper Helmsley in North Yorkshire and has sent out 102 winners already this season — that's a serious number, the kind that puts you firmly among the busier, more productive yards in the country. A trainer firing at that rate knows what he's doing, and when a yard like that keeps running a horse, it usually means they see something worth persisting with. Ten Sixty Six raced just yesterday and is clearly being kept active, which suggests the team are keen to find the right opportunity rather than shelving the project. The first win, when it comes, will have been earned the hard way.