Benjamin Macey(5)

The "(5)" after his name is worth explaining for newcomers: it means Macey is still an apprentice, and he's allowed to carry 5 pounds less weight than the race demands. That's a genuine advantage for the horses he rides, and it's a big reason why trainers are willing to put young jockeys up in the first place. The question is always whether the jockey is good enough to make the most of the opportunity — and Macey, for the most part, has been.

His most consistent working relationship is with trainer Gary Hanmer, though the numbers there are honest rather than spectacular: 3 wins from 40 races together, the same 1-in-12 ratio as his overall season. What's more interesting is his record at Wetherby, where he has won 3 times from just 10 rides. That's 1 in every 3 races at that track, which is well above his usual rate — and suggests he's either particularly comfortable there, or that the team tend to save him for their better chances at that course.

His win rate has dipped from 11% last year — roughly 1 in every 9 rides — down to 8% this season, which is worth noting. It's not dramatic, but it shows the job doesn't get easier as the years go on; competition is fierce and every percentage point is hard-fought. The encouraging sign is that over the last two weeks, he's won 1 from 7 rides, a 14% rate that puts him ahead of his seasonal average and suggests he's hitting a decent patch of form at a good time.

The partnership with Belle Montrose reads as a work in progress — 1 win from 5 races together isn't a standout combination yet, but in racing, some of the best partnerships take time to click.