Turtle Reef

That third-place finish is the one to focus on. In a sport where the margins between winning and placing can be razor-thin, landing a podium spot shows Turtle Reef is capable of mixing it with horses at its level. The challenge now is turning that promise into a victory, and at three years old there is still time for things to click.

What works in Turtle Reef's favour is the stable behind it. Hugo Palmer, based in Malpas in Cheshire, has sent out 67 winners already this season — that is a serious operation with the know-how to get the best out of a horse still finding its feet. Trainers like Palmer tend to place their horses carefully, picking races where they have a real chance rather than throwing them in at the deep end. When a yard is firing at that kind of volume, it usually means they are reading their horses well, and Turtle Reef will be no different. Having raced just yesterday, this is a horse very much in active campaign mode, which suggests the team believe there is a race to be won with it in the near future.