Metamorphic

That confidence comes from a notable pedigree. Metamorphic is by Frankel, one of the most celebrated racehorses of the modern era, and Mrs Harrington has said she is "really starting to come now" — trainer-speak for a horse that has finally clicked into gear after a slow burn. The trainer has also flagged that she stays well, meaning she handles longer distances, and has been eyeing a race at Limerick as the next step. Given that she has finished fifth, sixth, ninth, ninth, fifth, and third in her last six races — with that third place the most recent of her better efforts — there are signs that something is beginning to happen.

Mrs Harrington's yard is no small operation. They have sent out 53 winners already this season, which is a serious number — it means the stable has genuine firepower and the experience to place a horse carefully. Shane Foley has ridden Metamorphic five times without a win together, but jockey-and-horse partnerships often take time to click, and he remains the regular partner. Metamorphic raced just one day ago and is firmly in active campaign mode.

The honest picture is this: she hasn't won yet, and patience has been required. But a Frankel horse trained by a yard firing on all cylinders, with her trainer openly excited about what's coming — that combination is worth watching. First wins, when they finally arrive for horses like this, can feel less like a surprise and more like an inevitability.