Blakefell

The recent form makes for mixed reading. A runner-up finish is the highlight, but results of 9th and 10th suggest some inconsistency. What's worth noting is that Blakefell has spent most of its time racing at Class 2 level — one of the top tiers in British racing — without managing a win yet. That's a tough school for a young horse, and the fact that it has been placed at that level at least shows it isn't completely out of its depth.

Blakefell hasn't raced for around four months now, which is a significant break. That sort of absence can mean anything from a minor setback to simply giving a young horse time to mature and strengthen up. Ivan Furtado's yard at Wiseton in South Yorkshire has been in solid form this season, sending out 34 winners, so the team clearly knows what it's doing. If Blakefell comes back in good shape, a trainer operating at that level of output will have given this horse every chance to step forward.