Tie Fighter

Tie Fighter competes mainly at Class 4, which sits in the middle tier of British racing — not the glamour end, but a genuine test. Going winless from four races at that level is a little frustrating, though the recent upturn in form suggests the penny may be starting to drop. The horse raced just yesterday, which means it is bang in the middle of an active campaign, and trainers often keep horses busy at this age precisely because three-year-olds can improve quickly with racing experience.

The trainer is Ed Dunlop, whose Newmarket yard has sent out 36 winners already this season — a healthy haul that speaks to a stable in good form. Dunlop is an experienced handler with a track record of placing horses carefully and developing them over time, so Tie Fighter is at least in capable hands while it searches for that elusive breakthrough. For a horse that has already shown it can finish second, the first win feels more like a matter of when than if.