Royal Maggs

What the recent form does show is some genuine improvement. That second place is the standout — a horse that finishes runner-up has clearly found a level where it can compete, even if crossing the line first has so far proved elusive. The sequence of 2-4-8-8 in the earlier part of the last six runs tells a story of inconsistency, but finishing fourth and second more recently at least points in the right direction.

The trainer is Mark Walford, operating out of Sheriff Hutton in North Yorkshire, and the yard has been in fine form this season with 35 winners already on the board. That is a significant number — it tells you this is a yard that knows how to get horses winning, which gives Royal Maggs every chance of eventually breaking through if the right opportunity presents itself. Royal Maggs raced just yesterday, so this is very much a horse in the thick of its season right now.