Katate Dori

One thing they have learned the hard way is that ground conditions matter enormously. Sam Thomas has been candid about it: Katate Dori wants the ground fast and dry. When the track has been wet or muddy, he has struggled — Thomas described him getting "stuck in the mud" at Chepstow — and that explains some of the blanks in his recent record. His last six runs have produced no wins, with a second place as the highlight, and it has been 14 months since that Kempton triumph. The plan, Thomas has said, is simply to wait for the ground to come right before targeting the right opportunity.

The Kempton win also came with a behind-the-scenes story worth knowing. Regular jockey Dylan Johnston — who has ridden the horse in 9 of his 20 races, winning once — was left out in favour of Charlie Deutsch for that big day. Thomas was unusually gracious about it afterwards, making a point of praising Johnston for doing all the groundwork at home and saying he felt for him over the decision. It was a rare moment of honesty about the sometimes awkward choices that come with big race days.

At Class 4 level — the bread-and-butter tier of most race programmes — Katate Dori has won 2 from 7, a rate of 29%, which is comfortably above average. Thomas's yard has sent out 23 winners this season, so this is a confident, well-run operation. Jockey Shane Quinlan summed up the horse nicely after one run, calling him a very neat jumper who travels through a race enjoying himself. Given the right ground, he almost certainly has more to offer.