Speculative

That fourth-place finish is at least a flicker of something. It suggests Speculative can get competitive in the right race, even if converting that into a result has so far proved elusive. With only three races under its belt, though, it would be too soon to write off a young horse — plenty of three-year-olds take time to figure out what they are doing.

What works in Speculative's favour is the yard behind it. Tom Dascombe, training out of Upper Lambourn in Berkshire, has sent out 22 winners already this season — a strong return that marks him out as a trainer who knows how to get a horse ready to perform. Lambourn is one of Britain's most respected training centres, and horses leaving Dascombe's operation tend to be fit and well-prepared. If Speculative has a breakthrough coming, it is in good hands to find it.