Bennyworth

What makes the picture slightly more complicated is that second place. It shows Bennyworth is capable of competing at a reasonable level, at least on the right day. But with seven — out of seven — finishes being down the field, and no win to speak of from five attempts, there is clearly work to do before this horse becomes one to follow seriously.

The saving grace here is the trainer. Jim Boyle operates out of Epsom in Surrey — yes, the same Epsom that hosts the Derby — and has sent out 25 winners already this season, which is a healthy total for a yard of that size. A trainer who wins that regularly clearly knows how to place a horse in the right race at the right moment, and Bennyworth raced just one day ago, so the team is actively trying to find the conditions that suit. Whether this is a horse still finding its feet or one that has simply reached its level remains to be seen, but with Boyle in charge, it at least has someone in its corner who knows what it takes to win.