Sole Ruler

That lack of a win or even a place finish tells you this is a young horse still finding its feet at this level, which is entirely normal for a two-year-old with only a handful of races under its belt. The sample size is tiny, and it would be wrong to read too much into it yet.

What does offer some encouragement is the yard behind it. Paul Midgley, based at Westow in North Yorkshire, has sent out 39 winners already this season — a serious output that marks him out as a trainer who knows how to get horses ready to run and competitive. When a yard is firing at that kind of volume, it tends to mean horses are well-prepared and pointed at the right races. Sole Ruler may not have found the mark yet, but it is not short of capable hands pointing it in the right direction.