Lion Rose Sivola

Trained by Jonjo and A J O'Neill at their Cheltenham base, Lion Rose Sivola is operating out of a yard that has sent out 51 winners already this season, so they know what a useful horse looks like. When they say they want to give this one time, it isn't an excuse — it's a deliberate plan. The trainer has spoken openly about Lion Rose Sivola being a big, tall horse who is still developing, and that physicality means the body sometimes needs to catch up with the ability. His runs have been spaced out on purpose, and he hasn't been seen on a track for over two months after his latest effort.

That latest run came at Chepstow, where he finished second on wet, muddy ground — and handled it well, by all accounts. Wet conditions can expose a horse that isn't quite ready; the fact that he coped comfortably and still ran a place into second suggests there's a decent engine in there. Two runs, two placed finishes, and a trainer who describes him as "a nice horse for the future" — the early signs are quietly encouraging even if the winning column remains empty.

Zero from two isn't a record that sets pulses racing, but context matters. This is a horse being carefully introduced to racing rather than thrown at it, and with a stable firing on all cylinders this season, Lion Rose Sivola looks like a name to file away for when the yard — sorry, when the team — decide the time is right to step things up.