Patter Merchant

The two wins are separated by nearly a year — the first at Leopardstown on 28 December 2023, the second at Galway on 27 October 2024 — which suggests a horse that peaks occasionally rather than one building consistent momentum. Since that Galway win, now 18 months ago, Patter Merchant has gone six races without troubling the winner's enclosure. The recent form figures of 7, two pulled-up or fell runs in the middle, then 11, 3, and 5 paint a picture of a horse that has had its rough patches and is still searching for something to click.

What makes this particularly intriguing is the partnership with Jack Kennedy, one of Ireland's most celebrated jump jockeys. The two have teamed up six times and are yet to win together — not the record either would want. That said, Elliott's yard is one of the powerhouses of Irish racing right now, sending out 209 winners this season alone, so Patter Merchant is operating in very capable hands. A 7-year-old is generally at or near its peak, which means the opportunity to add to those two career wins is still very much alive. Raced just yesterday, this is a horse firmly in the thick of things — the next chapter is still being written.