Quillan

The horse broke its maiden at Redcar on 20 June and has since shown it can do it again, winning most recently at Ripon on 18 July. In its last five races, Quillan has finished first or second in four of them — a run of form that suggests something is clicking. The most recent outing came just a day ago, so this is a horse in active training and being given regular opportunities.

What stands out is how much Quillan thrives on normal ground conditions. Put the horse on a standard, dry-to-normal track and it has won two of three races there, a win rate of roughly 67 per cent. That kind of course preference can be gold dust in racing — trainers note what their horses love and plan around it. David and Nicola Barron's yard at Maunby in North Yorkshire has sent out 15 winners this season, suggesting they know how to develop young talent, and they clearly have faith in running Quillan regularly. At only two years old, with a recent win under its belt and form that mixes victories with consistent placings, Quillan looks like a horse with real potential as it grows into its frame.