Project Kinsman

At three years old, there is time on Project Kinsman's side, and that matters. Horses at this age are still maturing physically and mentally, and it is not unusual for a young horse to take several attempts to put everything together. The yard sending it out — Philip Kirby's operation in East Appleton, North Yorkshire — has been in decent form this season, with 36 winners to their name, so the training environment is clearly working. Kirby knows how to get horses winning, which makes it all the more likely that Project Kinsman's day will come when conditions and competition align in its favour.

The honest truth is that zero wins from seven races, with just two placed finishes to show for it, puts this horse firmly in the category of one that tries hard but has not yet found its level. Whether that changes depends on where Kirby points it next — drop it into softer company and that second place finish suddenly looks like it could become a first win. For now, Project Kinsman is a work in progress: interesting enough to follow, not quite ready to back.