Desert Cave

The recent form makes for tough reading. Over the last six runs, the best Desert Cave has managed is a fifth, with finishes of 7th, 10th, and 11th mixed in. There is no obvious momentum building, and with the last win now 25 months in the rear-view mirror, the question of whether another is coming grows harder to answer with confidence. The horse raced just yesterday, so at least enthusiasm is not the problem.

Shane Fitzgerald has been the regular partner, riding in five of these races together without getting Desert Cave into the winner's enclosure once. That is not necessarily a criticism of either horse or jockey — sometimes a combination simply hasn't clicked — but five attempts and no wins is a pairing that hasn't yet found its best version. Trainer G Ahern, based in Leamlara in County Cork, has sent out just one winner this season, which suggests a small yard operating at the modest end of the game rather than a powerhouse operation with resources to spare. Desert Cave fits that picture: a willing, durable horse who turns up regularly and tries hard, even if the big moment has largely passed it by.