Gnocchi

That said, the three-year-old does show signs of life when you look at the most recent form. A fourth-place finish represents the closest Gnocchi has come to breaking through, and it follows a run of results that were frankly difficult — two ninth-place finishes among them. Whether that fourth is a genuine uptick or just a better day at the office remains to be seen, but it at least suggests the horse isn't completely out of its depth.

What works in Gnocchi's favour is the training environment. James Horton's yard in Newmarket — the heartland of British flat racing — has sent out 20 winners already this season, which tells you this is an operation that knows how to get horses to perform. Newmarket trainers tend to have access to excellent facilities and serious competition in their daily work, so Gnocchi is at least being prepared by a team in form. The hope, presumably, is that experience eventually translates into results. With the horse having raced just yesterday, the search for that first win continues.