Miletus

What matters more than the headline figures is what Keane saw in him when that second win came through. The trainer, based at Newmarket, has always had a soft spot for the horse and backed the decision to step him up in trip—racing over a mile and a quarter rather than shorter distances—which appears to have paid off. Miletus is out of a Galileo mare, respectable breeding for a horse of his type, and his recent form shows he remains competitive. He finished third just days ago and has picked up places regularly across his last six races, winning once and placing in four of those six outings. This is the kind of pattern you see in a horse that knows how to run a decent race but hasn't quite found the consistency to challenge at the highest level. At five years old, he is in his prime racing years, and with a rating of 89, Keane has a clear picture of where he belongs in the jumping-off order. For a horse at this level, staying sound and competitive matters more than chasing big targets, and Miletus appears to be doing exactly that.