Bessie Wallis

That winning day at Lingfield is worth dwelling on. It came in late autumn, and she has not been back to the winner's circle since — now seven months ago. What is interesting is that she has run three times at Class 4, the bread-and-butter level of British racing, and has yet to win there. Her one victory came elsewhere, which raises a genuine question about where she is most comfortable and whether the team around her is still hunting for the right spot.

Behind her sits David Menuisier, one of the more respected handlers in the south of England, operating out of Pulborough in West Sussex. His yard has sent out 20 winners already this season, which speaks to a stable in good nick — these are not idle horses waiting for something to happen. Menuisier has a reputation for placing his horses thoughtfully, so the fact that Bessie Wallis has raced six times without consistently threatening suggests they are still piecing together the puzzle of what she needs.

She raced just yesterday, which means she is right in the thick of an active campaign. Whether that recent run was encouraging or frustrating, only the form figures will tell — a 5 is not a disaster, but it is not the kind of result that settles nerves either. At three years old, she has time on her side. Horses this age are still developing, and a yard with 20 winners on the board this season clearly knows how to find a race that suits. The question for Bessie Wallis is whether Lingfield in October was a glimpse of what she can do — or the ceiling. Given who trains her, the smart money is on it being a glimpse.