When John Wade bought six-year-old Alleged gelding Taleban little did he know what the name held in store for the lightly raced steeplechase runner."People look twice at the race card when they see the name," Wade told The Sun. "We started pronouncing it 'Tale Ban' and we have even looked into changing it officially."

Such a move would be allowed under British racing law and while the practice is traditionally held to be bad luck, it may be the only hope for the British gelding.

Taleban is an alternative name to the ousted Afghanistan government Taliban. The gelding is evoking little excitement and popularity in the betting pools and his form is equally inept and dropping off quickly.

In his most recent start, a two-mile steeplechase event at Newcastle racecourse, Taleban finished 15th out of 18 starters and 76 lengths behind the winner. Taleban has not won since his debut race in 1997, a one-mile maiden event at Milan racecourse in Italy, but he has managed a second and a third in 14 career starts. Among the horses winning his races: Silence Reigns, Ask the Natives, A Chef Too Far, and Battle Royal.

Perhaps the gelding's lineage is having a deleterious effect. Taleban's grandsire is Hoist the Flag, who is out of Wavy Navy, while his third dam is Ameridouble.

"I'm sure it's putting off the punter," said Wade.