Nobelos

The recent form tells an interesting story. Last time out, just a day ago, Nobelos finished fourth. Before that came the win at Ascot, and before that a thirteenth-place finish. So there's inconsistency — the kind you might expect from a young horse still learning the ropes. But the fact that it can go from the back of the field to winning at a top track suggests there's real ability lurking in there, waiting to be unlocked with experience.

Nobelos is trained by Charles Hills at Lambourn in Berkshire, a stable that has already sent out 29 winners this season. Hills runs a serious operation, which means the horse is in a yard with the resources and know-how to bring it along properly. At two years old, Nobelos is at that crucial stage where races are still about learning, and the long-term picture matters more than any single run. The fourth-place finish yesterday is a blip worth ignoring. That win at Ascot, though, that's the moment worth remembering.