Royal Baroness

Trained by R Mike Smith out of Galston in East Ayrshire, Royal Baroness operates at Class 5 level — the entry-level tier of British racing, where horses are finding their feet and handlers are figuring out where their charge fits in. She has run three times at that level without troubling the judge once. That said, the yard itself is in decent nick: 25 winners sent out this season is a healthy return and suggests Smith and his team know how to get a horse ready to perform. Royal Baroness just hasn't been the one delivering the goods yet.

She raced as recently as yesterday, which tells you the team still has faith that a better day is coming. At three years old, she is young enough that patience is not unreasonable — some horses simply need time and experience before things click. Whether that click is imminent is another question, but with a trainer in form and youth on her side, writing her off entirely would be premature.