Eastmore

Because look at those last six runs: second, first, second, second, third, second. That is a horse that has been knocking on the door almost every time out. Five placings sandwiching that solitary win is a remarkable stretch of consistency — it has been in the mix race after race, which means it is competing at the right level and running to something close to its best. The frustrating part, if you are following this horse, is that placing second four times in six races means it has been beaten, but beaten narrowly, by horses good enough to win on the day.

Philip Byrnes, who rides Eastmore most often, has partnered it in 13 of its 21 races and has that one win to show — a win rate of 8%, or roughly 1 in every 12 rides together. That is a combination that knows each other well, and the Down Royal victory was their shared reward for a lot of near-misses. C Byrnes as a yard has been in strong form this season, sending out 26 winners, so this is a stable that knows how to get horses ready to perform.

Eastmore raced just one day ago, which means it is firmly in the middle of a campaign right now. A six-year-old with a career record of 1 win and 10 places from 21 races has clearly been placed in competitive fields throughout — you do not collect 10 places without being a decent, reliable performer. The question is whether that Down Royal win, still its only victory, marks a turning point or remains a high-water mark. Given the current form, the honest answer is that Eastmore looks more like a winner waiting to happen than a horse that got lucky once.