Tiernan

His last six races tell a story of near-misses. He's picked up six places from his last thirteen outings—nearly half his runs have earned a cheque—but he's won just once in two months. Ridden most often by Paul Mulrennan, Tiernan hasn't quite clicked with his regular partner, managing no wins from five rides together. Yet Jardine hasn't lost faith. When Tiernan was beaten at short odds in his most recent race, the trainer suspects he simply bumped into a genuinely good horse rather than revealing a flaw in his own. With a yard that's already sent out 57 winners this season, Jardine has form in the kitchen—and his confidence in this horse's staying pedigree and upward trajectory feels earned rather than wishful. Tiernan looks like the sort of horse that could suddenly click into gear once all the pieces align.