Jazz Forever

The gap since that single win is the real story here. Nearly two and a half years have passed since Jazz Forever last got its head in front. In its last six races, the horse has produced a 20-11-12-3 finish — decent enough efforts in terms of not embarrassing itself, but no wins. At six years old, Jazz Forever is at an age when horses are supposed to be in their prime or heading toward it, yet consistency at the lower end of the scale is all the horse has managed.

There is one encouraging detail buried in the record: Jazz Forever runs best over middle distances between one mile three furlongs and one mile four furlongs, winning one of eight races at those trip lengths — a 12 percent win rate, which is measurably better than its overall record. Trainer Paul W Flynn, based at Colehill in County Longford, has built a respectable yard with 22 winners this season, so there is competent horsemanship in the corner. The horse raced only a day ago, so it remains actively campaigned.

For a horse this limited in its win rate and this long without a win, Jazz Forever is essentially a journeyman — useful for filling a race and occasionally threatening to win, but rarely delivering the payoff. It is the sort of horse that keeps yards ticking over and gives trainers something to work with, but rarely gives punters or observers much reason to get excited.