Liss Eile

Trained by G Ahern out of Leamlara in County Cork, Liss Eile is part of a small yard that has sent out just one winner this season, so this isn't a powerhouse operation throwing horses at big prizes. That context matters: sometimes a horse like this is simply finding its level, learning the game, and waiting for the right conditions to click. The fourth-place finish in that recent run is at least a sign of life, suggesting Liss Eile hasn't lost interest entirely.

Still active — last seen on a racecourse just 27 days ago — the six-year-old is at an age where most horses have already figured out what they're good at. Zero wins from twelve attempts is a tough record to look past, but two places from those twelve races means it has shown enough on occasion to suggest it belongs in the contest. Whether a first win is still in the script remains to be seen.