Derrygarran Lad

The recent form tells a story of near-misses mixed with larger defeats. Last time out, just a day ago, Derrygarran Lad finished sixth, but before that came a second-place finish that hints at genuine potential. In fact, the horse has picked up a place in three of its five races, which means it's competitive at the level it's racing. The puzzle is why it can't quite get over the line. A second and two more placings show it's regularly competitive, but the margins matter — one race away from a win or simply a case of other horses being that bit better on the day?

Trained by Julie Camacho at Norton in North Yorkshire, Derrygarran Lad is part of a yard in excellent form. Camacho has sent out 46 winners already this season, which speaks to a well-functioning operation with decent material to work with. That level of success suggests the trainer knows his job, which makes Derrygarran Lad's lack of a win even more intriguing. Sometimes a horse just needs the right race, the right ground, or a drop in class to unlock something. At three years old, there is still time for that to happen.