Sakoku

What works in Sakoku's favour is the company it keeps. The horse is trained by J P Murtagh at Coolaghknock Glebe in County Kildare, and that yard has sent out 53 winners already this season — a serious operation by any measure. Being trained by a handler producing winners at that kind of rate means Sakoku has every resource behind it, and horses from busy, successful yards tend to improve quickly once they find their rhythm.

The recent form reads 5-2-9 — that middle result, a runner-up finish, sits between a fifth and a ninth, which suggests Sakoku's performances have been inconsistent rather than steadily building. That second-place finish is the one to hold onto: it tells you the ability is there on the right day. Sakoku raced just yesterday, so the yard clearly have the horse fit and ready, and with more experience likely to come quickly, the first win may not be far away.