Mr Jeffrey

What's notable is how recent all of this is. Mr Jeffrey raced just yesterday, which means he's bang in the middle of his campaign right now. His last four runs read 8th, unplaced, 12th, unplaced — so the two placed efforts aren't visible in that sequence, meaning they came earlier in his career. The more recent runs have been tougher, and that 12th place in particular suggests he's been finding things a bit difficult at this stage. Whether that's a horse still learning his trade or one being tested at a slightly higher level than suits him is the kind of question his trainer will be working through.

He's trained by Rachel Cook and John Bridger, based at Liphook in Hampshire. The yard has sent out 7 winners this season, which tells you this isn't a big operation throwing dozens of horses at the calendar — those wins have been earned carefully. A smaller yard landing 7 winners means each one matters, and there's clearly enough ability in the string to get the job done when conditions are right. The question is whether Mr Jeffrey can be the next one to add to that tally.

At three, he has time. Horses at this age are still developing physically and mentally, and some take until their fourth or even fifth year to really hit their stride. For now, he's a horse to watch rather than one to back — but his the yard clearly believe he's capable of better, given how actively he's been campa