Volendam

The recent form tells an interesting story. Over the last six races, Volendam has finished second twice and third once, with those two second places suggesting the ability is absolutely there. Finishing second is exciting the first time, frustrating the second, and genuinely puzzling by the sixth race without a winner. Something — whether that is luck, timing, or a stronger rival turning up on the day — keeps getting in the way.

Volendam competes at Class 6, which is the entry level of British racing, the races designed for horses at the bottom of the prize-money ladder. At that level, winning should theoretically be more achievable, yet Volendam has drawn a blank in all nine races it has run in that grade. That is a strange combination: consistent enough to place repeatedly, but unable to convert at a level where the opposition is not particularly fierce.

The yard behind the horse is Tony Carroll, based in Cropthorne in Worcestershire, and it is worth noting that Carroll's team has sent out 134 winners this season — that is a genuinely productive stable, not a small operation struggling for runners. The fact that a yard operating at that volume has not yet found the right race or the right day to get Volendam its first win suggests this horse simply has its own very particular way of doing things. It raced just four days ago and is clearly being kept busy, which hints that the team believes there is a win in there somewhere, if they can just find the right opportunity.

Whether that moment comes soon is anyone's guess. For now, Volendam is one of racing's most reliable runners-up — a horse that turns up, tries hard, and almost always gives its backers a squeak. Almost.