How high could he have gone? Little Big Bear denied chance by curtailed season

Although unable to match 2021 champion two-year-old Native Trail's unbeaten season, Little Big Bear surpassed his level of form, according to the European rankings announced on Tuesday on the same day as the world rankings for older horses.

Little Big Bear's rating of 124 places him 2lb ahead of Native Trail's figure and 4lb ahead of 2020 champion St Mark's Basilica.

While he fell short of the benchmark set in recent times by Pinatubo (128), it's worth remembering that form figures, certainly in relation to juveniles, are almost as much about opportunity as they are ability.