George Cross

The horse has raced twice and placed in both outings, most recently finishing second before bouncing back to win at Goodwood. This kind of form — a win followed immediately by a second-place — shows consistency and the ability to handle race day pressure. At two years old, George Cross is still finding its feet, but the record so far is that of a horse with genuine promise rather than one simply learning the ropes.

Owen Burrows, the trainer based at Lambourn, has sent out 32 winners this season, so the yard is clearly in form. Having a young horse like George Cross capable of winning at a track like Goodwood suggests Burrows has identified something worth developing. For now, this is a horse that has done exactly what was hoped of it early on — win races and prove it belongs at the track.