Shaihaan

The recent form reading of 1-4-2-7 tells an interesting story. Strip away the 7 — which was presumably an early-career stumble — and what you have is a horse who has been placed in two of his three most recent races and then won his latest. That is a horse improving and finding his feet, not one flattered by a single lucky run.

He is trained by Donnacha Aidan O'Brien at Ballyroe in County Tipperary, part of a yard that has sent out 30 winners already this season. That kind of operation does not run horses without a plan, and the fact that Shaihaan has already been placed in three of his four races suggests the team see genuine ability here. A horse trained at that level, winning at The Curragh — one of Ireland's most prestigious tracks — is not just filling out a card. The Curragh is where serious horses are measured, and Shaihaan has already passed one test there.

Four races in, one win, two places, a recent victory, and a yard firing on all cylinders behind him. It is early days, but Shaihaan looks like a horse worth keeping an eye on.