Masaccio

The standout fact is his record at the top level. In six Class 1 races — the sort of tests that separate good horses from exceptional ones — Masaccio has failed to win a single time. He belongs, for now, in slightly easier company, which is exactly where he thrived last April when he won at Ayr, a Class 2 victory that remains his most recent success. That was 12 months ago, making his return from a 351-day absence a genuine comeback story.

What's most interesting about Masaccio is the partnership with jockey Tom Cannon. Together they have won four races from 12 outings — a 33 per cent win rate that significantly beats the horse's overall record of one win in every four races. This suggests Cannon understands how to ride him, and Alan King's yard at Wroughton has the form to have prepared him properly during that long break. The trainer has sent out 57 winners already this season, so there is pedigree in the stable. For a horse stepping back into action after nearly a year away, Masaccio returns with every reason to believe he can find the winner's circle again — especially if Cannon is back in the saddle.