Vantage Code

The key to this horse is distance. Over the longer trips from 1 mile 6 furlongs to 2 miles, Vantage Code wins roughly 1 in every 5 races—a far healthier record than his overall figures. That win at Galway fits the pattern: he clearly settles better when allowed to roll along at a proper gallop rather than being hurried over shorter trips. His recent form has been inconsistent, with a second-place finish just six days ago followed by a disappointing fifth last time out, but he has hit the board three times in his last six races, which suggests he remains competitive at the right sort of track and distance.

Trained by Emmet Mullins at Bagenalstown, Vantage Code is part of a yard in strong form this season with 31 winners already sent out. The challenge now is finding the right opportunities—races that suit his long-striding style and allow him to get into his rhythm. If the yard can keep him over his favoured distances and pick his targets carefully, there may well be more winners to come.