Xerling

Trained by Miss Natalia Lupini out of Banbridge in County Down, Xerling is part of a yard that has been in decent form this season, sending out 15 winners. That kind of productivity from a trainer suggests a well-run operation, and a horse sitting on a placed result in a stable like that is worth keeping an eye on. Lupini will know better than anyone what Xerling needs to finally convert that promise into a victory.

The recent form — a second, followed by some mid-field finishes and a couple of unplaced efforts — tells the story of a young horse still finding its feet. At three years old, that is entirely normal. Some horses take time to mature and figure out what is being asked of them, and often the penny drops all at once. Whether Xerling is about to have that moment is the interesting question — and with a race just one day ago, the team clearly believes there is more to come.