Al Zanati

What makes the picture more interesting is the yard behind it. Charlie Appleby's operation in Newmarket is one of the most powerful in British racing right now, having sent out 121 winners already this season. That is a remarkable number — it means this yard is not just occasionally getting horses over the line, it is doing it on an almost industrial scale. For Al Zanati to earn a place in that string and to have raced five times already at three suggests Appleby sees enough here to keep running it. Horses do not get outings for nothing.

The recent form reads 5-6-2-2-1 going back from the most recent race, and that tells its own story. The win came in the middle of the sequence, followed by two runner-up finishes before the last two runs dipped to fifth and sixth. That can mean a few things — tougher competition, a horse still finding its feet at this level, or simply the natural variation you get with a young horse still learning its trade. Either way, Al Zanati raced just one day ago, so whatever happens next is very close to happening.