Ladykirk

That placed finish is the most encouraging detail here. A horse that has never threatened the front might be easy to overlook, but a runner-up spot tells you the ability is there — it just hasn't quite clicked yet. The recent form reads 5-5-2 going back through the last three races, meaning Ladykirk finished fifth twice before that second place, which looks like genuine progress rather than a fluke.

Chapple-Hyam's yard has been in fine fettle this season, sending out 25 winners already, which means Ladykirk is sitting in capable hands. A trainer operating at that kind of volume knows which horses are coming into form and which aren't, and the fact that Ladykirk was out racing just one day ago suggests the team believes there is more to come. When a yard this productive keeps running a horse, it usually means they can see something worth chasing.