Damsel In Distress

Her recent form tells a story of mild inconsistency, as you'd expect from a young horse still figuring out what racing demands. In her last five outings she has finished third, third, fourth, first, and fifth—so she can be reliable in the places but tends to blow hot and cold. That opening win at Roscommon now sits three months in the past, which is a long time between victories for a horse of her apparent ability. What's encouraging is that Daniel McLoughlin's yard at Newbridge has sent out nine winners this season, suggesting she is in a stable that knows how to develop young talent and time their runs shrewdly.

With only one win from five races, Damsel In Distress remains unproven at the highest level. But she is still two years old, still racing actively, and still showing the kind of sectional improvement at the right distance that hints at a future worth watching. If McLoughlin can work out the right trip and the right ground, she might yet justify the promise her debut win suggested.