The Clonmel Kid

What makes this harder is that The Clonmel Kid rarely runs in the strongest company. At Class 4 level, where the races are more open and winnable than the very top tier, the horse has managed zero wins from seven attempts. You would expect slightly better returns at that grade, which suggests it may be running into stiffening competition even there. Joe Williamson, who rides the horse most often, has partnered it to one win from twelve races together, a win rate of roughly 1 in every 12 outings. That is not the kind of record that breeds confidence, though it does not rule out the possibility of another victory on the right day.

The horse is trained by Philip Kirby, whose East Appleton yard in North Yorkshire has been successful this season with 36 winners to their name. Kirby runs a sharp operation, so The Clonmel Kid is in capable hands. Still, after six months without a win and recent form showing mostly mid-field finishes, this is a horse that feels like it is running out of time to break through again at seven years old. It raced just yesterday, so it is still active and still being given chances — but for those chances to matter, something will need to click soon.