Mr Mills

Those two wins do tell a story, though. Both came at a distance of a mile and three furlongs to a mile and four — and at that trip, his record sharpens up considerably. He has won 2 of his 13 races over that range, a 15% win rate, or roughly 1 in every 6 or 7 attempts. That might not sound dramatic, but it is more than double his overall average, and it tells you that when the yard pick their spot right, there is a version of Mr Mills who can get the job done. The first win came at Dundalk in December 2022, and the second at Navan in July 2023 — and that second one is now 35 months ago, which is a long time between celebrations.

His most recent six races make for uncomfortable reading: finishing 16th, second, 13th, a non-completion, 13th, and 7th. That second place is the one glimmer — proof he can still be competitive on the right day — but the results either side of it suggest those days are becoming rarer. He raced just yesterday, so he is clearly still active and still being given opportunities.

The partnership with jockey Robbie Colgan is the most intriguing angle in his record. In eight races together, Colgan has ridden Mr Mills to both of his career wins — a win rate of 25%, or 1 in every 4 rides. For a horse who wins only 1 in 14 overall, that is a striking difference and suggests Colgan has a feel for him that others simply haven't found. Trainer Edward F Power, based in Thurles, has sent out five winners this season, so the yard is in decent enough form. Whether Mr Mills can add a third win to his CV — and end a wait that has now stretched almost three years — remains the question his small but presumably hopeful following will be asking.