New Divide

That sixth-place finish is the one to hold onto. Sandwiched between two runs where New Divide struggled to land a blow, it suggests there is something in there worth coaxing out — the question is whether trainer Charles O'Brien can find the right opportunity to bring it forward. O'Brien operates out of Straffan in Co Kildare and has sent out one winner from his yard so far this season, so this is a small, patient operation rather than a factory turning out winners on a conveyor belt.

New Divide raced just yesterday, which means this is a horse very much in the thick of things right now. At three years old, there is still time to develop and improve — plenty of horses take a handful of races just to understand what is being asked of them. Whether New Divide is one of those late developers, or simply a horse running at a level slightly above its current ability, the next few runs should give a clearer picture.