Wadacre Geisha

And that direction, to be fair, looks encouraging. The most recent form reads 2-5-8-9-9, which means the two worst performances came first and the horse has been finding its feet ever since. Finishing second last time out is exactly the kind of run that suggests a win is not far away — it tells you the horse is competitive, just not quite over the line yet.

The stable behind Wadacre Geisha is one of the strongest in the north of England. Charlie Johnston trains out of Middleham Moor in North Yorkshire, and his yard has sent out 128 winners already this season — a figure that puts him firmly among the most prolific trainers in the country. A horse in that setup is being looked after by people who know how to get results, which means when the right race comes along, they will know how to find it.