Carrig Padraig

That Fairyhouse win is worth dwelling on. It came nine months ago, and in the races since — his recent form reads 18th, then a win, then 5th, 6th, and 6th going back further — he has not been able to repeat it. The 18th place finish in his most recent race, just a day ago, is a sharp reminder that horses are not machines, and that finding that winning form again is easier said than done.

One interesting subplot is his partnership with Mr D M Fitzgerald, who has ridden him in 5 of his 9 races without ever getting him to the winner's enclosure. That is not necessarily a knock on either horse or jockey — sometimes a pairing just does not quite produce the magic, and 0 wins from 5 together is the kind of record that quietly raises questions about whether a change of rider might unlock something.

Behind the scenes, Carrig Padraig is trained by Gavin Cromwell at his yard in Navan, Co. Meath. Cromwell is having a productive season — 96 winners sent out already — which suggests this is a well-run operation with plenty of horses in good form. The fact that Carrig Padraig has not added to his tally despite being in capable hands simply underlines that he is a tough horse to win with. Whether he can find another day like Fairyhouse is the question his trainer will be quietly working to answer.