Just Johnny

What makes the picture a little more complicated is that Just Johnny raced just one day ago, so whatever happened last time out is fresh. A sixth-place finish is the most recent entry on the scorecard, which at least represents an improvement on that eighth — though in racing, "better than eighth" is a low bar to be measuring progress against.

The trainer is Alan Jones, working out of an undisclosed yard that has sent out four winners so far this season. That suggests a small but functioning operation — not a powerhouse stable, but one clearly capable of getting a horse to win. The puzzle is finding the right race for Just Johnny to do the same. With no wins and no places in four attempts, it has yet to give any real indication of what conditions or circumstances might finally bring out something better. At this stage, patience is the main thing the team has to offer — and the fact that they keep running the horse suggests they believe there is more to come.