Cailin Deas

Trained by Ian Patrick Donoghue out of Clonalvy in County Meath, Cailin Deas is part of a yard that clearly knows what it's doing — 26 winners sent out this season alone is a healthy, productive total for any training operation. Donoghue's team have been willing to give this horse time, and that patience paid off when she got her head in front at Kilbeggan. It was her first career win from 14 attempts, a win rate of around 1 in every 14 races, which is modest — but the six placed efforts alongside it suggest she's competitive and consistent rather than simply making up the numbers.

What's most interesting right now is her recent form. Her last six runs read 3-3-–-7-1-4, and that sequence tells a story of a horse coming back to life. The win sits in the middle of that run, and either side of it she's been placing — third twice in her most recent outings. She raced just one day ago, which means she's fit, active, and clearly in a good spell. At 8 years old, some horses begin to fade, but Cailin Deas looks like she's in one of the better patches of her career right now. The team will be hoping to take advantage of that while the form holds.