Mountbatten

That single win came at Southwell over an extended distance, and the horse has proven far more effective when stepped up in trip. Over distances between a mile and six furlongs and two miles, Mountbatten has won 1 of his 3 races — a 33% win rate that stands out sharply against his overall record. He struggles when pitched into top-flight Class 5 competition, where he has failed to win from 3 attempts, but the longer the race, the better he seems to perform. His recent form has been mixed. After a seventh-place finish in his last two outings, he returned with a fourth and a second, suggesting there may still be improvement to come if the right race presents itself at a suitable distance.

Trained by Sir Mark Prescott, one of Britain's most respected horsemen, at his famous Newmarket yard, Mountbatten benefits from a setup that has already sent out 47 winners this season alone. That calibre of horsemanship counts for something when a horse is still learning his trade. With just one win in two months and inconsistent recent results, Mountbatten is not yet a horse to bet the farm on — but the positives are there for those patient enough to track a three-year-old still finding his way.