Belardo Ace

What gives genuine reason for optimism is who is doing the teaching. Andrew Balding's yard at Kingsclere in Hampshire has sent out 202 winners this season alone — that is not a stable that makes the numbers by accident. Running a yard at that level requires organisation, talent, and a serious string of horses, and Belardo Ace is learning its trade in exactly that environment. Most trainers would be delighted to hit 50 winners in a season; 202 puts Balding firmly among the elite operators in British racing right now.

The recent form reads 9-2-5 in finishing order, which tells an interesting story. That second-place finish shows there is ability there — it has mixed it with the leaders and come close — while the ninth and fifth suggest it is still finding its feet and working out what racing actually asks of it. That is entirely normal for a young horse with only three outings to its name. Belardo Ace raced just one day ago, so it is very much in the thick of its first season and plenty of opportunity remains.