The Vegas Raider

What stands out is the long drought. It's been 25 months since that sole victory at Ballinrobe, and across its last six runs the horse has had nothing better than a pair of ninth-place finishes. The most recent outing came just yesterday, so it's still being campaigned regularly, still getting chances—but those chances aren't resulting in wins or even placings. Over that stretch it has managed only one placing position (a second, two races back), which suggests The Vegas Raider is gradually slipping down the field in races where it's entered. For a horse that was good enough to win once, that's a telling decline. At this point in its career, it's a genuine trier that the yard keeps running, perhaps in hope of one more payday, but a horse that has clearly seen its best days come and go.