Prince Palace

His recent form shows he can still mix it in the thick of things. In his last six runs he has twice finished in the money (fifth and fifth again), with a couple of higher-placed efforts mixed among the rest. That suggests he is not entirely out of it yet, though with a win rate of just 1 from 25 races—roughly 4 percent—he is competing well below the top tier. The jockey Harry Sexton has ridden him eight times and won once together, a marginally better win rate of 12 percent, though that remains a struggle in real terms.

Trained by P J Rothwell at Tinahely in County Wicklow, Prince Palace competes for a yard that has had a productive season, sending out 35 winners so far. That suggests the stable is functioning well, and the trainer clearly sees enough in this horse to keep him racing. For Prince Palace, the challenge now is simple: at eight years old and with one win to his name, he is fighting for relevance in a sport that measures success by victories. He will need something to break his way soon if he is to add to that solitary Navan triumph.