Horndean

Trained by Adam Kirby at his yard in Kirtling, on the outskirts of Newmarket — the undisputed heartland of British flat racing — Horndean is in capable hands. Kirby's operation has sent out 6 winners already this season, which shows the yard is in decent nick and capable of getting horses ready to win races. For a young horse still finding its feet, being part of a yard that knows how to get results matters. Horndean raced just yesterday, so whatever comes next, this is a horse very much in the thick of its season right now.

At two years old, context is everything. Many horses this age are still learning the basics — how to load into the stalls, how to race in a group, how to use their ability under pressure. Two runs is a very small sample, and a horse that finished third last time out is by no means out of the picture. The question is simply whether that improvement continues next time out.