Favourite Friend

That said, context matters. Sir Mark Prescott's yard has sent out 47 winners already this season, which tells you this is not an operation short of ability or know-how. Prescott is one of the canniest trainers in British racing, renowned for his meticulous placing of horses and his patience in finding the right opportunity. The fact that Favourite Friend hasn't found its moment yet doesn't mean the team has given up — quite the opposite. A yard like this tends to keep running a horse until the right race presents itself.

The 4th-place finish in recent form is the one glimmer worth noting — closest to a result, even if it still fell short of prize money. With Favourite Friend having raced just a day ago and clearly still in active training, another attempt is likely just around the corner. Whether this is a horse that simply needs more time to fill its frame, or one still waiting for conditions to suit, only the next few races will tell.