Arthurian

What's particularly striking is how Arthurian has handled the step up in class and variety of conditions that come with racing regularly. Five races in quick succession is a lot of racing for a young horse, and to stay this consistent — winning one and finishing in the top three four times — shows both soundness and a genuine will to compete. He's trained by Andrew Balding at Kingsclere in Hampshire, one of the country's most successful yards, which has sent out 202 winners already this season. That's the kind of operation where horses are given every chance to show what they can do, and Arthurian is clearly making the most of it.

The shape of his recent form tells an interesting story. After that debut win, he ran second, then third, then second again before a sixth-place finish in his last outing. That dip could be nothing more than the natural ups and downs of racing a young horse, and there's every reason to think he'll bounce back. With a win rate of roughly one in every five races and four top-three finishes from his five starts, Arthurian looks to have genuine potential in whatever comes next.