Toon Town

The recent form makes for mixed reading. The last six runs produced a second and a fourth alongside some less encouraging finishes — a sixth, another sixth, and a ninth — before a break of around three months. That layoff is worth noting. Whether it signals a minor setback or simply a planned freshen-up, Toon Town returns having had time off the track, and horses can sometimes bounce back sharper after a rest.

What works in Toon Town's favour is the yard it comes from. Gavin Cromwell's operation in Navan, Co. Meath has sent out 94 winners this season — that is a serious number, reflecting a stable in excellent form. Cromwell is not the sort of trainer who runs horses without a plan, so the fact that Toon Town is back in action after this break suggests the team believes there is still something to aim for. At eight years old, the window is not wide open, but horses of this age can still win races. The question is whether Toon Town can find a situation that suits it as well as Wexford did on that afternoon in May 2024 — its one moment of glory in a career that has been far more about patience than reward.