Miqdaad

That sole career win came at Dundalk 28 months ago, and he has not been able to repeat it in the six races since, finishing 10th, 7th, 10th, 2nd, 8th, and 16th in that stretch. The second place is the most tantalising result in there — close enough to remind everyone what he might be capable of, yet still not a winner's enclosure moment. His best distance appears to be somewhere between seven furlongs and a mile, where he has won 1 from 9 races — an 11% win rate at those trips, which is notably better than his overall record and suggests that is where any future chance of improvement lies.

He is trained by John C McConnell at Stamullen in County Meath, a yard that has been in fine form this season with 38 winners on the board. That context matters — McConnell clearly knows how to get horses winning, which makes Miqdaad's 28-month drought a puzzle rather than a reflection of the stable's ability. He raced just one day ago, so he is very much an active runner, and the yard will be hoping the right race at the right trip eventually unlocks something. For now, though, he remains a horse whose best days feel frustratingly out of reach.