Kilbarry Ce Ce

The recent form figures tell an interesting tale. Dashes in racing shorthand mean the horse didn't finish in the first few, but sprinkled in among those are a second and two fourth-place finishes — signs that Ce Ce can get close on the right day, even if the winner's enclosure has so far stayed out of reach. With a race just yesterday, this is a horse very much in the thick of things right now, not one being rested or wound down.

Regular partner Cian Quirke has ridden the horse six times without a win between them, though that partnership clearly keeps being called upon, which suggests the yard still believes a breakthrough is possible. Trainer C O'Keeffe operates out of Kilbarry in Waterford — a small operation that has sent out one winner this season. At that level, every runner counts and every near-miss feels significant. A yard like this isn't placing horses in races to make up the numbers; when Ce Ce lines up, it genuinely matters.

The honest truth is that Kilbarry Ce Ce is the kind of horse that keeps the yard — and small trainers especially — going. Not every horse is a star, but a horse that places, keeps trying, and races as recently as yesterday is doing its job. The win, when it comes, will mean something.