Alice De Clare

What stands out is what has happened lately. In her last six races, she has won three of them, including a victory at Lingfield Park just two weeks ago. That is the kind of frequency that catches attention. She was only beaten on her most recent outing, two days ago, but she came second — still in the money. The pattern here is clear: Alice De Clare is a horse finding her feet right now, and the momentum is good.

The real clues to her future lie in the specifics. She absolutely thrives at distances between one mile three furlongs and one mile four furlongs, having won three of her four races at those trips. More striking still is her preference for dry ground: on fast, firm conditions, she has won half her races (2 from 4), which is a win rate most trainers would dream of. On slower surfaces, she has struggled. This tells you something important about how to run her — stick her on fast ground at a mile and a quarter, and she has every chance.

She races for James Fanshawe's yard in Newmarket, which is one of the powerhouses of British racing. Fanshawe's team has sent out 44 winners already this season, so Alice De Clare is in an operation that knows how to prepare a horse for the big occasions. She is still only three and still learning her trade, but if conditions and distance suit her, she has shown she can win at a decent clip. The fact that she was racing just yesterday suggests the yard has plans to keep her active — and busy horses often find their level faster than those left standing in the paddock.