Cannes

That recent sequence of 14th, 1st, 2nd, 2nd is worth reading carefully. Strip away that one poor run and you have a horse that has finished first or second in three of its four races — a level of consistency that many experienced horses never achieve. One win from four races means Cannes is winning at a rate of roughly one in every four attempts, which at this early stage of a career is a healthy return.

The trainer behind all of this is Joseph Patrick O'Brien, operating out of Owning Hill in County Kilkenny. This is one of the most productive yards in Ireland right now — 171 winners in a single season is a remarkable volume of success, meaning O'Brien's team is firing out winners at a pace that puts most rivals in the shade. For a young horse like Cannes to be part of that operation is significant. Horses in this yard get placed carefully, and when they run, they tend to be ready.

Having raced just one day ago, Cannes is clearly in an active campaign right now. It is still only three years old, which means the best may be well ahead of it. The foundation looks solid: a proven course win at a top track, a trainer at the peak of his powers, and a record that shows more substance than a single headline result. Worth keeping an eye on.