Minella Rockett

What makes the Limerick win particularly satisfying is the context. Jockey Seamie Heffernan had partnered Minella Rockett in five of those seven races without a win, so the pair had put in plenty of work together before finally getting their reward. Patience is a big part of horse racing, and this is a decent example of it paying off.

Trainer John J Nallen's yard has sent out five winners already this season, and Minella Rockett now accounts for one of them. That is a meaningful contribution from a young horse still learning the game. At 14% — roughly one win in every seven races — the win rate is modest so far, but with a horse this age, the record across seven races is less important than the direction of travel. The recent form reads 1, a non-runner, 4, 2, 3, 4 — a sequence that shows consistency rather than brilliance, but also a horse that has just gone and won. That is the most important number on the page.