Sam Coen(5)

The most important relationship in his career so far is with trainer Adrian McGuinness. Of his 80 rides for that yard, 10 have ended in the winner's enclosure — a win rate of 12%, or roughly 1 in every 8. That is noticeably better than his overall average, which tells you something useful: McGuinness clearly trusts him with live chances, and Coen repays that trust more often than not. In racing, a young jockey who earns the confidence of a good trainer early is already halfway up the ladder.

The most eye-catching number in his profile, though, is what happens when the rain comes down. On genuinely wet and muddy ground, Coen has won 2 races from just 3 rides — a staggering 67% return. Three rides is too small a sample to draw firm conclusions, but a ratio like that is impossible to ignore. Some jockeys have a natural feel for horses that are struggling through the mud, keeping them balanced and confident when conditions get difficult. It is far too early to call it a specialism, but it is absolutely something to watch next time the skies open.

The (5) beside his name indicates he is a claiming jockey — he carries 5 pounds less weight than the race conditions officially require, which is an allowance given to apprentices to help them compete while they are developing. As that allowance shrinks over time and eventually disappears, the real test of any young rider begins. Right now, Sam Coen is in the middle of what every apprentice hopes for: a productive first year, a strong yard behind him, and a few intriguing quirks in his numbers that suggest there might be more to come.