Luan

That said, Ferguson's yard is in decent shape this season, having sent out 26 winners, so the infrastructure and knowhow is clearly there. Luan has just not yet found a way to translate that into results on the track. Most of its races have come at Class 5 level — the entry point of British racing, where the horses are least exposed and competition is relatively modest — and it has won none of its three races at that grade. When a horse can't break through even at the lowest rung, questions naturally arise about whether it will ever find its moment.

Raced just yesterday, Luan is very much an active prospect, and at four years old there is still time for things to click. But on the evidence so far, it will need to find significant improvement to give the yard — sorry, to give the Ferguson yard — something to celebrate.