Abila

What makes the situation interesting is where Abila sits in the sport's pecking order. Class 5 is the entry level of British racing, the kind of race designed specifically to give horses like this a realistic shot at winning. And yet, in three attempts at that level, Abila has drawn a blank. That is not a crisis — plenty of horses take time to click — but it does raise a question about whether the right race or conditions have been found yet.

On the positive side, Abila raced just yesterday, so the team at Ian Williams' yard clearly believe there is something worth persevering with. Williams himself is having a strong season, having sent out 91 winners already — that is a yard operating with confidence and purpose, not one that wastes time on horses without potential. Based in Alvechurch in Worcestershire, it is a stable that knows how to place a horse and get the best from it. If Abila is going to turn a corner, it is in capable hands to do so.