Lilt

She returns now after a break of around five months, which is worth keeping an eye on. Horses coming back from a long absence can need a run to blow away the cobwebs, though a yard firing on all cylinders can often have one ready to perform fresh. That yard is William Haggas's operation in Newmarket, one of the most powerful in Britain right now — they have sent out 176 winners already this season, which is a remarkable tally and speaks to a team that knows exactly what it's doing. When Haggas runs a horse, it tends to be for a reason.

The simple story here is that Lilt has done everything right so far, and the interesting question is whether she can build on that debut win now that she's had time to grow and develop over the winter. Three-year-olds often improve significantly between their first season and their second, so a horse that already won on her opening appearance could be noticeably better for the experience. Whether she picks up where she left off at Doncaster is what everyone will want to find out.