Tomas O Maille

The overall numbers tell an honest story: 1 win and 11 places from 38 races, a win rate of just 3%, or roughly 1 in every 38 starts. That is not the record of a horse destined for the big occasions, but it is the record of a consistent, competitive animal that earns its keep by finishing close far more often than it finishes last. Eleven places from 38 races means Tomas O Maille has been in the thick of things roughly 1 in every 3.5 races — that is a horse that shows up.

Jockey Ambrose McCurtin knows this horse better than anyone, having ridden it in 13 of those 38 races and being aboard for that sole victory at Ballinrobe. Their partnership has produced 1 win from 13 races together — not a sparkling ratio, but the pair clearly have a working understanding, and McCurtin was the man in the saddle when the breakthrough finally came. Trainer M Flannery has sent out 2 winners this season, so Tomas O Maille accounts for half of the yard's success — which gives you a sense of how meaningful that Ballinrobe result was for the whole team.

Recent form has been quieter: finishes of ninth, a couple of non-completions, tenth, and fifth in the last six runs, with no win since that April day at Ballinrobe — now 14 months ago. But the horse raced just one day ago, which means it is fit, active, and still being campaigned with intent. At nine years old, Tomas O Maille is not a young prospect being groomed for stardom. It is a seasoned competitor that has found its level, earned one precious win, and keeps turning up. Sometimes that is the most interesting story of all.