Tuba

The overall career numbers tell a solid story — 4 wins and 9 places from 25 races — but the recent form is what really catches the eye. In the last six races, Tuba has won three of them. That run of 4-1-1-1-2-2 (reading from most recent back) means the horse has either won or finished second in five of those six outings. That is not a horse on the fringes; that is a horse in the form of its life.

O'Brien's yard has had a strong season — 90 winners and counting — and Tuba is one of the reasons why. When Gina Mangan is in the saddle, the partnership looks particularly sharp: together they have won 3 of their 9 races, which works out at roughly 1 in every 3. For context, most jockey-horse combinations at this level manage something closer to 1 in 10. The combination clearly suits the horse.

Tuba also seems to have clear preferences when it comes to conditions. On normal ground, the record reads 3 wins from 10 races — 30%, or nearly 1 in 3. Extend the trip out to a mile and six furlongs or further, and the horse has won 2 of 7, which again outpaces its overall average. When the ground is right and the distance is there, Tuba tends to show up.

The most recent win came at Fakenham on 31 May, just three weeks ago, and with a race only yesterday, this is a horse that is genuinely busy and in the thick of its season. Tuba typically competes at Class 6, which is the entry level of British racing, but the consistency and course record suggest a horse that has found exactly where it belongs — and is making the most of it.