Smooth

Jockey N G McCullagh has partnered Smooth in six of those nine races and is yet to ride it into the winner's enclosure — 0 wins from 6 attempts together. That is not necessarily a reflection on either horse or rider, but it does mean the combination has had plenty of chances to click, and something has not quite fallen into place. The partnership has become familiar without yet becoming fruitful.

Smooth is trained by Charles Weld, whose yard has sent out one winner so far this season. Weld keeps the horse active — Smooth raced just yesterday — which suggests the team has not given up on finding the right opportunity. Sometimes it takes a while to work out exactly where a horse belongs and what conditions suit it best, and the fact that Smooth keeps running is a sign that patience, at least, has not run out. Whether a breakthrough is coming is the open question, but for now this is a horse still searching for its moment.