Arkat

Varian's operation is one of the sharpest in the country this season, with 87 winners already saddled from his Suffolk base. That kind of record means Arkat is getting expert handling as it learns the ropes. A third-place finish on debut is no disgrace — many horses need a race or two to understand what is being asked of them, and the fact that the yard has put it back in action so quickly suggests the team sees something worth developing. Whether Arkat goes on to justify that confidence remains to be seen, but it has at least made a respectable start.