Paddy Bradley

What makes that figure more encouraging is the direction of travel. Last year Bradley was winning around 1 in every 12 or 13 races — about 8%. This season that has climbed to 10%, meaning he is finding the winner's enclosure more often without necessarily riding more. That kind of upward curve is exactly what you want to see from a young jockey: not a flash of form, but gradual, measurable improvement.

His most dependable working relationship is with trainer Simon Dow, and the numbers there are worth a closer look. Nine wins from 79 rides together gives them an 11% win rate — slightly better than Bradley's overall average, which suggests the two have developed a real understanding. When a trainer keeps putting you up on their horses and the results keep coming, that trust means something in this sport.

Dig a little deeper and a couple of specific strengths emerge. On wet or muddy ground, Bradley has won 1 race from just 5 — that's a 20% hit rate, which is double his season average. Small sample, yes, but it hints at a rider who doesn't mind conditions that put others off. And then there's Southwell, the all-weather track in Nottinghamshire, where he has won 7 times from 34 races. That's roughly 1 in every 5 visits to that track — well above his usual level — and that sort of dominance at a specific venue isn't accidental. Southwell has a distinctive oval shape and a particular racing surface that rewards riders who know its quirks, and Bradley clearly does.

At 127 career winners and still only four years in, he is accumulating experience at a healthy rate. The improvement this season is the real headline — jockeys who get better year on year tend to keep getting better.