Crafty Blue

The recent form reading 9-1-7 tells a slightly more complicated story, though. That middle result — a placed finish — shows Crafty Blue can mix it competitively, but the ninth-place runs on either side suggest some inconsistency. With only three races on the clock, it's still early days, and three-year-olds often take time to find their best.

What helps is the yard behind the horse. Richard Hannon, based in Wiltshire, has sent out 115 winners already this season — that's the output of a stable firing on all cylinders, and horses trained there tend to be well-prepared and placed sensibly. Crafty Blue raced just one day ago, so the team clearly believes this horse is ready to keep running, which in itself says something about how the horse is being managed. Whether the Southwell win proves to be a springboard or a high point, only the next few races will tell.