Gaurdman

His only win came at Haydock Park on 26 September 2025, and it remains the defining moment of his career to date. Haydock is a galloping, left-handed track in the north of England that tends to suit horses with a bit of scope and stride — not the easiest place for a young horse to announce itself. The fact that Guardman did it there, rather than at a smaller, easier venue, gives the form a bit more credibility. His recent runs of 6-1-3-6 show a horse who has gone close since that win without being able to repeat it — a third and a runner-up telling you he belongs in these races, even if the winning feeling has so far proved elusive.

He is trained by Roger Varian at Newmarket, one of the most respected yards in Britain. Varian's team has sent out 87 winners already this season — that is not a quiet, under-the-radar operation. It is a stable that handles horses of genuine quality, which tells you something about how Guardman is regarded behind the scenes. A horse like this does not sit in a powerful Newmarket yard by accident. He raced just one day ago, so he is right in the thick of his campaign, and at two years old, the story is very much still being written.