Colugo

The recent form makes for sobering reading. In its last six races, Colugo has finished 15th, 15th, 8th, had one run that didn't produce a recorded finish, 8th, and a third — that third place being the one bright spot in an otherwise frustrating sequence. With no win from any of those six runs, it's hard to build a case that a breakthrough is just around the corner, but the horse raced as recently as yesterday, so the the yard clearly haven't given up.

Luke McAteer has been in the saddle for five of Colugo's races and hasn't managed to steer it to a win yet, going 0 from 5 together. That's not necessarily a reflection on either horse or jockey — some partnerships just never quite click into gear — but it does mean there's no obvious combination on the horizon that looks likely to change the script.

Trainer Ian Patrick Donoghue, based at Clonalvy in County Meath, has sent out 29 winners this season, which shows the yard is more than capable of getting horses to win races. The fact that Colugo hasn't been one of them, despite clearly being kept in active training, suggests Donoghue sees something worth persevering with. Whether that faith is eventually rewarded is the question.

For a horse still racing at five with 21 races and no wins, patience is the defining word. Some horses take time. Some never quite get there. Colugo is still in the game, which counts for something — but the clock is ticking, and a win, any win, would change the conversation entirely.