Yup Bro

The most telling detail might be the partnership with jockey Rory Cleary, who has ridden Yup Bro in five of those nine races without a single win between them. That is not necessarily a criticism of either horse or rider — sometimes a combination just doesn't click, and sometimes the horse simply isn't good enough on the day. What stands out from the recent form is a fourth-place finish a few runs back, which at least hints that Yup Bro can get competitive when things fall right.

Trainer John C McConnell, based at Stamullen in County Meath, is clearly no stranger to winners — his yard has sent out 36 of them this season alone, which is a healthy return by any measure. The fact that Yup Bro hasn't contributed to that tally yet doesn't reflect on the operation as a whole, but it does raise the question of where a win might eventually come from. Yup Bro raced just yesterday, so the yard are clearly keeping the horse busy and looking for the right opportunity. At four years old, there is still time — but the clock is ticking, and the scoreboard remains stubbornly blank.