Uncle Al

What is genuinely interesting about Uncle Al is how recently active he remains. He raced just a day ago, which means the seven-year-old is still being asked to compete and his trainer still believes there is something worth pursuing. His last win came four months back at Huntingdon on 25 May, and in the six races since then he has picked up a second place but nothing more, finishing third and sixth in other attempts. That pattern — occasional placings mixed with no-shows — is familiar in horses at his level and suggests he remains useful without being reliable.

The partnership with jockey Aaron Anderson offers a flicker of encouragement. Together they have won 1 from 6 races, a 17 per cent win rate that is measurably better than Uncle Al's overall record. At Class 5 level, where he has contested most of his races, he has won 1 from 6 starts, the same fraction. These numbers hint that under the right circumstances, with the right jockey and the right opposition, Uncle Al can find his way to the front. Whether Bedi's modest yard—which has sent out just 2 winners this season—has the infrastructure to give him those circumstances regularly remains to be seen, but for now, the horse keeps turning up and trying.