Western Monkey

The catch, of course, is the long silence. Western Monkey has been away for roughly three months, which is the kind of break that leaves plenty of questions. Whether it was injury, recovery, or simply waiting for the right opportunity, the horse is only now returning to action. Trainer Harry Derham, based at Upper Lambourn in Berkshire, has a yard firing on all cylinders this season with 59 winners to its name, so there is clearly form and structure in place. The real test will come when Western Monkey steps back onto the track and whether that December win was the start of something or a one-off moment of brilliance for a horse at an age when many are still finding their way.