Scott McCullagh

His most important professional relationship is with trainer Joseph Patrick O'Brien, one of Ireland's most respected yards. McCullagh has ridden for O'Brien 37 times and come home in front on 3 of those occasions — a win rate of around 1 in 12, noticeably better than his overall average. When a stable of that calibre keeps putting you on horses, it means they trust what they see.

If you want to watch McCullagh at his best, Down Royal is the place to do it. He has won 3 races from just 5 rides at the track — that is 3 in every 5, which is a remarkable return anywhere in racing, let alone at a competitive Irish venue. Some jockeys simply read a particular track better than others, whether it is the shape of the bends, the pace of races there, or the type of horse it suits. Whatever the reason, Down Royal brings out something special in him.

He also performs well when conditions are normal — not too wet, not too firm, just standard racing ground. In those conditions, he has won 4 from 46 races, a win rate of around 1 in 11. It is a modest but meaningful edge, the kind that adds up over a long season.

Six winners from 107 rides in the last 12 months will not make the back pages. But McCullagh is a jockey on an upward curve, building stable relationships, dominating a home track, and converting his chances more efficiently than he did a year ago. At this stage of a career, that is exactly what progress looks like.