Finlaggan

The recent form figures of 4-7-2-8-2 do at least include that second-place finish, which suggests there is something there to work with, even if the wins haven't followed. Stringing together a sequence of finishes outside the top three is frustrating, but it's worth remembering that plenty of horses take time to click before things suddenly fall into place.

What Finlaggan does have in its favour is the quality of the yard behind it. Trainer David O'Meara, based at Upper Helmsley in North Yorkshire, has sent out 107 winners already this season — a remarkable output that puts him among the most productive trainers currently operating in Britain. A handler who wins that consistently knows how to place a horse, and finding the right race for a horse like Finlaggan — one that clearly has some ability but hasn't converted it into a win yet — is exactly the kind of problem a yard of that size and experience is well equipped to solve. When the right opportunity comes along, don't be surprised if Finlaggan is ready for it.