Queen Leila

Her strongest form comes over the middle distances, particularly between a mile and one-eighth and a mile and two furlongs. Over that stretch of ground, Queen Leila has won 1 of her 4 races, a win rate of 25 percent — a meaningful contrast to her overall record. It is a narrow sample, but it suggests the sweet spot where her running style clicks into gear. Recent form has been mixed: she was placed two weeks ago, but before that struggled in mid-field finishes and a 12th place attempt. That variability is the puzzle her trainer Noel C Kelly at Draperstown must solve. Kelly's yard has sent 14 winners out this season, so the stable is in form, but Queen Leila herself remains one of the harder nuts to crack.

The gap since her last win is notable — four months is a long time for a young horse to be away from the winner's circle — yet she continues to turn up to run. That willingness to keep trying, combined with evidence that she performs well enough when the race setup suits, means there is still time for her to add to her tally. She is not a star in the making, but she is not finished either.