Radharc Na Slaine

The overall record is honest rather than spectacular: 1 win and 7 places from 22 races, a win rate of around 1 in every 20 outings, or roughly 5%. Most of those races have come in Class 5 company — the bread-and-butter level of British racing — where the record reads 1 win from 14 attempts, or about 1 in every 14. That tells you this is a horse that competes reliably at the lower end of the sport without dominating it. The seven placed finishes do at least show it has been involved, without quite being able to get its nose in front.

Radharc Na Slaine is trained by David Rees, whose small yard in Clarbeston, Pembrokeshire, has sent out 5 winners this season — a respectable return for an operation of that size. The horse's most regular partner has been jockey Conor Ring, who has ridden it in 10 of its 22 races without managing a win together, which makes the Stratford victory — achieved, presumably, with a different rider — all the more notable as an isolated high point. Recent form reads 1-5-4-6-3 over the last six runs (with one non-completion), so there is clearly still some life in the horse at nine, even if that winning day at Stratford remains the career peak for now.

What makes Radharc Na Slaine quietly interesting is the sheer persistence on display — 22 races is a long journey for a win that took this long to arrive, and the horse is still out there competing. It raced just one day ago, which means it is very much part of David Rees's current plans. Whether lightning can strike twice at Stratford or elsewhere, this is a horse that keeps showing up, and in racing, that counts for something.