Pinot Gris

The key to getting the best from him appears to be softer ground and the right equipment. On normal conditions he has won twice from five races (a 40% success rate), but step the ground up to slightly soft and that improves dramatically to two wins from four races — a 50% win rate. His trainer Henry De Bromhead, based at Knockeen in County Waterford, has experimented with blinkers to sharpen Pinot Gris up and help him concentrate, a tactic that paid off at Naas on a recent start. The trainer has been candid about the horse's temperament, describing him as lazy and idle, the sort that needs a nudge to get going. At Down Royal, the jockey Dylan Browne McMonagle noted he was still raw but came good when conditions suited him, suggesting there is more to come as he matures and steps up in distance.

His form over the last six races has been patchy — a second place most recently, followed by a fourth, and then some well-beaten efforts — which explains why De Bromhead has spoken about moving him into a handicap race rather than chasing top-level opportunities. Pinot Gris is the kind of horse that rewards patience and the right setup rather than one built for consistency.