Delusional

That said, the horse raced just yesterday, so whatever story is being written is very much still in progress. Trained by Daniel McLoughlin out of Newbridge in County Kildare, Delusional is part of a yard that has sent out nine winners this season, so the ability to produce results is clearly there. McLoughlin's team know what a winning horse looks like — Delusional just hasn't found a way to become one yet.

The second place does at least confirm there is something to work with. Finishing runner-up means the horse has been competitive on at least one occasion, close enough to the winner to suggest that a breakthrough is not entirely out of reach. Whether that moment arrives soon is another question entirely — but with a trainer in decent form and a young horse still learning its trade, it would be premature to give up on Delusional just yet. The name may be tempting fate, but three-year-olds have confounded expectations before.