Lazy Griff

He is trained by Charlie Johnston at Middleham Moor in North Yorkshire, one of the most productive yards in the country — 128 winners already this season, which speaks to the quality of the operation behind him. Johnston has spoken warmly about Lazy Griff's toughness, describing a performance at the Curragh where he was genuinely surprised by how well the horse finished, noting he looked to be feeling the ground at every stage and yet still ran a race that Johnston called "unbelievably tough." At Epsom, Johnston admitted they were not even sure the horse would make the trip, given his preference for a softer surface and a flat, galloping track — but Lazy Griff ran a big race anyway.

The one caveat is that he has yet to win at the top level, going 0 from 3 in Class 1 races — the elite tier of British racing. That is not a disgrace for a young horse; it simply tells you he has already been competing against the very best without quite getting his nose in front. The good news is that Johnston has identified Doncaster on soft ground as the setting most likely to suit him, and there is clearly a belief within the yard that the best is still to come.

He has not raced for roughly ten months, returning from a break, so there will naturally be questions about sharpness first time back. But a horse who has placed in five of six races and drawn praise from his trainer for raw toughness is rarely one to dismiss lightly on return.