Absoluteassignment

That said, the recent form tells a slightly more nuanced story. A second-place finish sits in the middle of some otherwise forgettable efforts — three sevenths and a thirteenth — but second place at least means the horse was competitive on that occasion, however briefly. It raced just yesterday, so it is clearly fit and active, and at three years old there is still time for things to click.

Absoluteassignment is trained by Anthony Mullins at his yard in Gowran, County Kilkenny. Mullins has sent out nine winners this season, which shows the stable knows how to get horses to perform. The question is whether this particular horse can find the improvement needed to join that tally. For now, it remains one of those honest young horses that turns up, runs its race, and heads home without the prize — but the story is not over yet.