Le Malin

The partnership with Mr N McParlan is the defining thread of Le Malin's story. Seven of those ten races have been ridden by McParlan, producing that single win — roughly 1 in every 7 races together. It's a modest record on paper, but there's something to be said for consistency of partnership, and the fact that the one big moment came with McParlan in the saddle is not nothing. The yard is trained by S McParlan over in Newry, Co Down, so this is very much a family operation with a single winner to its name this season — Le Malin accounting for the lot.

What makes the current moment interesting is the recent form. Reading the last six races from most recent backwards — third, first, fifth, third, seventh, eighth — you can see a horse that was in a rough patch, found its moment on Boxing Day, then has come back and placed again since. Still racing at 12 years old and last out just a day ago, Le Malin is clearly in good enough health to keep competing. The question is whether another win is coming, or whether that Down Royal success will stand as the career peak. For a small yard with limited firepower, even one winner means a great deal — and Le Malin delivered it on one of the biggest racing days of the year.