Merci Monsieur

The colt runs for Andrew Balding's Kingsclere yard in Hampshire, one of the most consistent powerhouses in British racing. Balding's team has already sent out 204 winners this season alone, which tells you the operation knows how to prepare horses for the track. A six-month absence followed by a return to racing is not unusual for a young horse in a top-class stable — it suggests the trainer spotted something worth nurturing and has been schooling it properly rather than throwing it in at the deep end. Merci Monsieur will be hoping the time away has brought improvement, and that a fresh campaign brings the success that has eluded it so far.