Intrusively

What gives the trainer Michael Appleby genuine confidence is the company Intrusively has kept. Last season he finished third in the Richmond Stakes — a prestigious race for young horses — and then ran fifth in a high-profile sales race at Doncaster, finishing only three places behind a horse that would go on to win the French Derby. That is the equivalent of being in the same local five-a-side squad as someone who ends up playing in the Champions League final. You don't forget that sort of proximity.

Over his best distances — the short, sharp sprints between five and six and a half furlongs — he wins roughly 1 in every 5 races (1 from 5), which is actually a solid return for that distance bracket. The wider career figure of 7%, or 1 win from every 14 or so races, flatters to deceive: strip out the Class 2 runs where he was always swimming upstream, and a more interesting horse emerges.

Appleby, whose yard at Oakham has sent out an impressive 79 winners this season alone, made a point of flagging Intrusively's comeback run at Newcastle as one to take seriously. The horse met traffic throughout and still hit the line strongly — in racing terms, that means he was blocked and squeezed for room yet still finished with more to give. Appleby's view is that a clear run would have earned a top-four finish at the very least. He was raced just yesterday, so he is fit and active, and the trainer is clearly bullish about what comes next. A horse with this kind of form line and that kind of backing from his team is worth watching closely.