Pilu

Both wins came in a purple patch at the end of last summer. The first arrived at Bath in early August, quickly followed by another at Salisbury in late August — back-to-back wins that suggested a horse going places. Teal has since admitted the team got the tactics wrong when Pilu ran in a conditions race at Salisbury later that season, which at least explains the sixth-place finish that ended his juvenile campaign on a flat note rather than a high one. It is not a red flag; it is just a learning experience, and Teal clearly still believes in the horse.

What makes this story feel timely is that Pilu raced just yesterday — so his season is already underway — and Teal is pointing him towards a three-year-old sprint race at Newmarket, one of the most famous tracks in the world and a venue that sorts out who the real talents are. Teal's yard has been in strong form, sending out 22 winners this season already, so this is not a stable misfiring and hoping. When Roger Teal takes a horse to Newmarket, he tends to mean business.

The trainer has spoken about how impressive Pilu looked at home as a juvenile, describing him as a very exciting horse to work with even before he proved it on the track. That kind of private enthusiasm from a trainer is often more telling than any public statistic. Horses can look brilliant at home and disappoint on a racecourse, but Pilu has already backed up the homework with results. Newmarket on Saturday will tell us just how good he really is.