Trilby

The difference between Trilby on a normal day and Trilby on a wet racetrack is dramatic. On soft or muddy ground, he wins roughly one in every three races; on very wet and muddy ground, that jumps to two wins from three. His trainer, Sam England, based in Guiseley near Leeds, has noted that Trilby rarely shows anything at home but transforms when he steps onto a racetrack, particularly one that has seen heavy rain. He is also a course specialist at Beverley, where he has won 2 of his 4 races. That Beverley win last week came after a solid effort on soft ground at Doncaster, and both suggest the horse is in good form as the season progresses.

Joe Fanning, who has ridden him 14 times, has a 21% win rate aboard him — better than Trilby's overall record — which hints that the right jockey can unlock something extra. England describes him as laid-back and easy to deal with, a sprinter who doesn't show much at home but conserves energy in races, saving himself for the moment it counts. The trainer is clear that Trilby is now higher in the handicap and harder to win with than he once was, but he remains a pleasure to train and has already repaid that investment many times over. With Haydock and York on the radar, there is every reason to think a horse who thrives in the wet and loves certain tracks has more to give.