Hengest

The wins have come at modest tracks. Hengest's breakthrough came at Windsor on 11 May, and it has won twice since — most recently at Great Yarmouth on 28 May, though that victory now sits three months in the past. The recent form tells a more complicated story. In its last six races, the horse has returned a third, a third-place finish buried among some indifferent runs, with just two wins to show. That suggests Hengest is finding the going tougher of late, or perhaps the consistency simply isn't there yet. Still, it raced only a day ago, so the yard — Dylan Cunha's operation at Newmarket, which has sent out 45 winners this season — is keeping the horse active and hunting for the right race.

The key to unlocking Hengest lies in patience and ground conditions. Stick it on fast, firm turf and point it at a race over the middle distances it loves, and there is genuine value in what this horse can do. For now, though, it remains a horse of promise rather than proven ability at the highest level.