Kintail

The profile is a little complicated by the level Kintail is asked to compete at. All six of its races at Class 3 — one step below the very top races in Britain — have ended without a win, a 0 from 6 blank that tells its own story. The wins have come at the level below that, suggesting Kintail is a horse that needs things set up in its favour to be at its best. Rowley has been candid about that, noting last autumn that the horse wasn't fully right in the spring, and that firm, dry ground is not its friend. Rather than rush it back and risk an injury, the yard sat on their hands and waited. It's a sensible approach, and one that speaks to a trainer who knows his horse.

Jockey Nico de Boinville, who has partnered Kintail more than anyone else — nine times in total, with one win between them — described the horse after its last Warwick success as "a work in progress." That phrase was clearly meant affectionately. Rowley followed it up by calling Kintail a "lovely big baby," the kind of horse whose attention is everywhere except where it needs to be. It's a type that often takes time to grow up and focus, and for a horse of Blue Bresil breeding — a sire whose offspring are known for their easy-going temperament — that rings true.

What keeps Kintail interesting is that its last win came 30 months ago, yet it raced just yesterday and is clearly still an active part of Rowley's string. A yard that has sent out 12 winners this season isn't carrying passengers. The recent form — two places from the last four completed runs — suggests the pieces haven't quite fallen into place yet, but the Warwick record hints that when they do, there's a performance waiting to happen. Whether that moment comes around again is the question worth watching.