Alfred Tennyson

Where Alfred Tennyson does look more interesting is over distances of seven furlongs to a mile. In five races at those trips, he has won once, which translates to a 20% win rate — wins 1 in every 5 races at that range. That is a meaningfully better return than his overall record suggests, and it points to a horse that at least has a clear sweet spot if the yard can keep finding the right opportunities.

He is trained by Denis Gerard Hogan, whose yard in Cloughjordan, County Tipperary, has been in fine form this season — 56 winners sent out is a healthy tally and reflects a well-organised operation with horses running to a purpose. That kind of volume also means Hogan knows how to place horses to give them their best chance, which could matter for a horse like Alfred Tennyson, who has shown he can win but needs things to fall right. He raced just one day ago, so he is clearly being kept busy.

At this stage of his career, Alfred Tennyson reads as a horse best suited to the right distance on the right day rather than one likely to go on a winning run. The Limerick success remains his solitary high point, and whether he can add to it will probably depend on finding that seven-furlong-to-a-mile trip in reasonable conditions.