Nepal

What is encouraging is how Nepal performs when the trip stretches out. Over distances of a mile and three furlongs to a mile and four furlongs, it has won 1 from 4 races — a 25% win rate, which is 1 in every 4 attempts at that range. That is a meaningfully better record than its overall figures suggest, and it points clearly to where Nepal is most at home. A longer trip gives it something to aim at, and that suits its style.

The recent form reads 4-3-6-1-4-3, which shows a horse that has been finishing in and around the places regularly, with that win sandwiched in the middle. It raced just yesterday, which means it is fit and active right now — this is not a horse being dusted off after a long break. Trainer Ivan Furtado, based at Wiseton in South Yorkshire, has had 43 winners this season, which marks him out as a yard in decent shape and one that knows how to place its horses well. Getting Nepal to the track at Great Yarmouth and winning there suggests the team had a clear plan, and it worked. Whether they can find another opening like that — and whether Nepal can reproduce that level — is the next question worth watching.