The Truant

The clearest example of that is Sligo. Two wins from just four races at the track makes it a genuine course specialist there, which is a remarkable return — winning half your races anywhere in this sport is exceptional. The Truant's first career win came at Sligo back in August 2022, and there is clearly something about the place that brings out the best in this horse. Whether it's the tight, undulating nature of the track or simply the atmosphere, Sligo has been where The Truant has consistently delivered.

Ground conditions matter too. On slightly soft going — when the ground has a bit of give underfoot after rain — The Truant has won 2 of just 6 races, a 33% win rate that puts it in a completely different league to its overall record. That is the kind of stat that makes a knowledgeable punter sit up: one in three on the ground it likes is the form of a much better horse than the overall numbers suggest.

Trained by Michael Attwater out of Epsom in Surrey, The Truant is part of a yard that has been in fine fettle this season, sending out 26 winners. The most recent win came at Punchestown in October 2025, around six months ago, and The Truant has not raced for 111 days — just over three months — meaning this will be a comeback run. Horses returning from a break can be rusty or can come back fresh and ready to go; that uncertainty is part of what makes racing interesting. Kevin Sexton has ridden The Truant seven times and won once together, a 14% win rate — better than the horse's overall record but hardly a dominant partnership.

Recent form reads 4-8-1-6-6-8, meaning one decent placing in the last six outings with a few disappointing efforts mixed in. The form coming into this return is modest, but on soft ground, at a track it knows — The Truant has a habit of making people look foolish for writing it off.