Bartholomew

He's been off the track for around three months now, which is a meaningful gap. That kind of break can mean plenty of things — a minor setback, a deliberate freshen-up, or simply waiting for the right opportunity. What it does mean is that Martin Brassil and his yard in Dunmurray, Co Kildare, have had time to work on him away from the spotlight, and returns from a break sometimes bring improvement that racing fans don't see coming until the horse is already crossing the line.

Brassil's yard has sent out 10 winners this season, which shows this is an operation that knows how to get horses ready to perform. The fact that they've kept faith with Bartholomew through four unproductive races suggests they believe there's something worth waiting for. Whether this return from his break marks the start of something better is the question worth watching.