Del Corso

What stands out is the consistency shown in the middle stretch of that form — back-to-back thirds and a second place suggests a horse that competes honestly without quite having the finishing kick to get its nose in front. The pair of sixth-place finishes on either side of that run are harder to explain without knowing more, though they may simply reflect tougher fields or conditions that did not suit. What is clear is that Del Corso raced just one day ago, so it is very much a horse in active training and mid-campaign.

The operation behind it is worth noting. Ed Walker's yard at Upper Lambourn has sent out 76 winners already this season, which is a serious number — Upper Lambourn sits at the heart of British racing's training country, and a trainer operating at that volume is placing horses carefully and knowing what he has. If Walker keeps running Del Corso, it is a reasonable sign the team believes a first win is achievable. The question is whether this horse can turn those near-misses into something more before the season is out.