Abbotsford

What makes Abbotsford interesting is how recent that second win is. It crossed the line at Naas just days ago, and that kind of fresh success often tells you more about a horse than a long, dusty record. The win at Galway back in July showed Abbotsford could perform at a decent track, and the follow-up victory at Naas this week proves it wasn't a one-off. The horse is clearly improving, picking up race fitness and confidence as it goes.

The form around those wins is solid if a touch patchy. In the last six races, Abbotsford has placed second twice and finished in the frame regularly enough, but there have been a couple of disappointing efforts too—a seventh and an eighth among the recent runs. That's normal for a young horse still finding its way, but it does mean Abbotsford is inconsistent. It's a horse that on the right day, with the right conditions, will get close to the front; on others, it struggles to trouble the judges. D K Weld's Curragh yard has sent out 21 winners this season, so Abbotsford will have the benefit of a well-run operation behind it as it continues to develop. If it can string together a few more wins, it could become genuinely interesting.