Francisco's Piece

What makes Francisco's Piece genuinely interesting is the picture Keatley paints of a horse still catching up with himself. After that Pontefract win, he spoke about Francisco's Piece being backward in his coat and physically underdeveloped, and said the more time the horse got, the stronger he'd become. More than a year on, he's still saying similar things — and crucially, he's now pointing him at some big targets. The trainer has mentioned the Ayr Gold Cup, one of Britain's most famous sprint races, and is also considering a run at the Shergar Cup. That's a significant upgrade in ambition.

The key to unlocking him, according to Keatley, is conditions. Francisco's Piece wants wet, soft ground and a sharp six-furlong trip — a specific combination that simply hasn't come together often enough. He tried seven furlongs at Epsom and it didn't suit him. His recent run at York, where he finished fifth from his last six outings, is seen as a sharpener. The team is essentially waiting for autumn rain, and if it arrives, they believe they'll have a different horse on their hands. His recent form — finishing 7th, 5th, 15th, 12th, 13th and 5th in his last six races — doesn't read brilliantly, but Keatley isn't hiding from that. He's been patient before, and he's prepared to be patient again.

Whether Francisco's Piece can finally deliver on that long-held promise remains to be seen. He's faced Class 2 company six times without winning, the highest level of British racing below the very elite, which tells you he's been asked tough questions. But the trainer's conviction is real, and with the right ground this autumn, the answer might finally come.