Ricky Punting

Trained by Tom Dascombe at Upper Lambourn in Berkshire, Ricky Punting is in capable hands. Dascombe's yard has sent out 22 winners already this season, which tells you this is an operation that knows how to get horses ready to perform. A stable in that kind of form tends to have a good feel for when a horse is ready to step forward — and with a second place just two runs ago and a third most recently, Ricky Punting looks to be moving in the right direction.

At two years old, this horse is right at the start of the journey. Most two-year-olds are still figuring out the basics — settling into a rhythm, learning to race against other horses, working out what it all means. The fact that Ricky Punting has already placed twice suggests there is ability there; it just hasn't translated into a win yet. Raced just yesterday, this is a horse very much in the thick of its season, and with the experience of four races now under its belt, a first victory could be closer than the bare record suggests.