Zarinca

What stands out is that Zarinca clearly has a distance sweet spot. Over 5 to 6½ furlongs, the horse has won 1 of 6 races (a 17% win rate), which means it is genuinely competitive at that trip. Stretch it further and things fall apart. The fact that the one win came over 5 furlongs at Southwell, a track where the horse has found its feet, suggests Edward Bethell's yard in Middleham has worked out what this horse needs. Bethell's operation has been prolific this season with 61 winners already, so the trainer clearly knows what he is doing — Zarinca just needs to slot into races where the distance and conditions suit.

The recent form is frustrating, though. Six races without a win, with mostly middle-of-the-field finishes, might worry the yard if this run stretches much longer. Five months since that Southwell victory is a long dry spell at this level. Still, the horse raced just yesterday and is clearly active and ready to go again. With plenty of racing left in the season and a clear preference for shorter distances, Zarinca will get more chances. Whether it finds another winner's circle depends on getting the right race at the right track — and the yard clearly believes there is more to come.