Zain Primus

The recent form tells a slightly more complicated story, though. Over the last four races, Zain Primus has won twice but also finished unplaced once, with a third-place finish most recently, just a day ago. That's the kind of inconsistency you sometimes see in young horses still learning their trade. The gap of three months between the Newcastle win and yesterday's run suggests the horse may have been rested or recovering from a minor issue, which is normal practice with three-year-olds. Still, coming back to race so quickly and finishing in the money — even if not winning — suggests the horse has stayed sound.

John Butler, the trainer at his Newmarket yard, has built a strong season with 39 winners already, so Zain Primus is working under a handler with genuine form. The real question now is whether this horse can get back to winning ways and build on those early victories, or whether that initial spark has faded slightly. With a 50% win rate from just four races, there's clear talent here, but the next few outings will tell us whether this is a horse destined for bigger things or one that has simply had a bright start before levelling out.