Isle of Lismore

The real story emerges when you look at the ground. On normal, standard conditions, Isle of Lismore transforms into a much sharper proposition, winning 3 of 14 races at that type of going — that's 21%, or roughly 1 win in every 5 races. Soft or muddy ground seems to take something out of the horse; fast, dry ground does too. The horse is also a clear Newmarket specialist, having won 2 of its 10 races at that track, suggesting it knows how to handle the unique demands of Britain's most famous racecourse.

Trained by Robert Cowell at Newmarket, Isle of Lismore works with jockey Kieran Shoemark whenever possible, though the partnership hasn't quite clicked yet — just 1 win from 6 races together. Still, the recent form tells an encouraging story: a win four months ago at Ffos Las, followed by a third-place finish and some solid efforts lower down the card. The last outing was a seventh-place result, but with the horse running so fresh and the yard in decent form this season, Isle of Lismore looks like a horse that still has days ahead. For a Class 3 horse at this level, that's plenty to work with.