King Of Thebes

What is striking is the context around King Of Thebes. Being trained by Charlie Appleby at Newmarket is about as good a situation as a young horse can find itself in. Appleby's yard has sent out 121 winners already this season — that is a remarkable volume of success that puts the operation among the most powerful in British racing. When a yard is firing at that rate, the horses in it are well prepared, well placed, and given every chance to succeed. King Of Thebes is not knocking around in some forgotten corner of the sport.

The back-to-back thirds are also worth a second look. The most recent race was just yesterday, which means this is a horse in the middle of an active campaign, being kept busy and tested regularly. Trainers of Appleby's calibre do not keep running a horse that has nothing to offer. The fact that King Of Thebes has placed in both its races suggests there is ability there — it is a question of whether it can find that extra gear to get its nose in front. At three, with a powerful team behind it, there is every reason to think the opportunity will come.