Tide Runner

That third-place finish is the one to cling onto. In racing terms, placing without winning can mean a horse is finding its feet, learning how to race, or simply waiting for the right opportunity. At three years old, that's entirely normal — horses this age are still developing physically and mentally, and plenty have taken time to click before going on to better things.

What works in Tide Runner's favour is the yard behind the horse. John and Sean Quinn, operating out of Norton in North Yorkshire, have sent out 44 winners already this season — that's a team in serious form, and when a stable is firing at that rate, even the horses yet to win tend to benefit from the confidence and momentum around them. Having that kind of support structure matters, especially for a young horse still finding its way. Tide Runner ran just yesterday, so the yard will be watching closely to see how the horse comes out of that effort before deciding on the next step.