Karrygrant

Those two runner-up finishes are the most telling detail here. Finishing second is the most frustrating result in racing — close enough to suggest the ability is genuine, just not quite enough to get the job done. Karrygrant has done it twice in its last six runs, which means the yard — sorry, which means the trainer knows exactly what kind of horse they have on their hands: talented, competitive, and in need of everything clicking at once.

That trainer is J P Murtagh, based at Coolaghknock Glebe in County Kildare, and the yard is having a productive season with 53 winners already on the board. A stable firing at that rate tends to know when a horse is ready to win, and the fact that Karrygrant raced just one day ago shows this is a horse being kept busy and active rather than wrapped in cotton wool. The team clearly believe a breakthrough is coming.

At three years old, Karrygrant has time on its side. Horses this age are still learning their trade, and consistent placing — rather than winning — is often a sign of a horse developing rather than flatlining. The profile here is of something that belongs in competitive company, handles racing without drama, and keeps finishing in the frame. When the win does come, it probably won't surprise anyone who has been watching closely.