Eoin Staples

The most striking number in Staples's record is his partnership with trainer Gavin Cromwell. From 83 races together they have combined for 14 wins — that's winning 1 in every 6, almost double his overall rate. When a jockey performs that much better for one particular yard, it usually means there's genuine trust on both sides: the trainer keeps booking him, the jockey knows the horses, and the results follow. For Staples, Cromwell's operation looks like a real home base as he builds his career.

He also has a clear preference for wet, muddy ground, where he wins 9 from 44 races — roughly 1 in every 5. On days when other jockeys are grumbling about the conditions, Staples tends to thrive. Whether that's down to the type of horses he rides or something in his style, the numbers make a compelling case that he's the man to look for when the ground is soft. His record at Sligo tells a similar story about a jockey who punches above his weight in specific circumstances — 3 winners from just 10 races there is a 30% hit rate, exceptional by any standard.

At only three years into his career, there is plenty of runway ahead. The raw numbers are still modest, but the trends inside them — the Cromwell partnership, the soft-ground record, the Sligo figures — suggest a rider who is finding out where he excels and leaning into it. That's exactly what a smart young jockey should be doing.