Stormbreaker

The real story lies in what Stormbreaker does well. Over distances between a mile and six furlongs and two miles, it transforms into a genuinely effective racer: it has won 2 of 4 races at those lengths, a 50% win rate that stands in stark contrast to its overall record. This is where John Joseph Hanlon's yard has found its niche with this horse, and it explains why the yard keep running it. In Class 5 races — the lower tier of British and Irish racing — Stormbreaker wins only 1 in 6, which suggests it struggles against stronger opposition and performs best in smaller contests where the pace suits its style.

Stormbreaker's recent form tells a harder truth. Over its last six runs, it has finished outside the placings twice and recorded just one top-three finish — a sixth on its most recent outing a day ago. This is a horse treading water, still racing regularly but no longer winning. Darragh Keenan, its most regular partner, has managed just 1 win from 6 rides together, suggesting the pair have not quite found their rhythm. For a seven-year-old at Hanlon's County Carlow yard, the window for a return to the winner's enclosure is narrowing, but so long as it stays fit and sound, there is no reason it cannot break its winless streak.