Hamaleel

The horse performs noticeably better at distances between one mile and one furlong and one mile and two furlongs—winning one of five races at those trips (a 20% win rate)—which is a useful pointer for the trainer. Archie Watson's Upper Lambourn yard has been in excellent form this season with 62 winners, so the infrastructure is there to get the best out of the horse. Hollie Doyle has been the regular rider, and tellingly she has won on Hamaleel: one win from five races together is double what the horse manages overall, suggesting both jockey and horse understand each other well.

The real worry is that the horse has struggled at the higher class levels. In three attempts at Class 5 races, Hamaleel has drawn a blank, which hints that it may be reaching the ceiling of its abilities. The horse is active and racing regularly, but the flat spell since January and the pattern of decent placings punctuated by disappointing runs point to something lower than top-tier prospects. For a three-year-old still chasing a second career win, the window for improvement is open, but it is narrowing.