King Of Earth

The horse broke its duck at Wolverhampton on 1 June, proving it could get the job done at the track, then backed that up with a win at The Curragh in late June. That second victory is important: The Curragh is one of the best tracks in racing, not a place for horses still learning the ropes. Winning there suggests King Of Earth has genuine quality, not just a fluke first win. William Haggas trains from Newmarket and has been in exceptional form this season, with 170 winners already sent out from the yard — so the horse is in a stable running hot and equipped to bring it along properly.

The fact that King Of Earth raced just a day ago means it's being campaigned actively, which at three years old is exactly right. With two wins banked and the ability to place regularly, this is a horse that has proven it can compete and win at decent tracks. The next step is consistency — another win or two at this level would start to paint a genuinely impressive picture for a young horse still working out what it's capable of.