Shane Markey(7)

The most interesting thread running through Markey's record is his partnership with trainer Ross O'Sullivan. Of his 51 rides this season, 40 of them have come under O'Sullivan's banner, producing all 3 of his winners. That works out at 1 win from every 13 rides together — not a barnstorming ratio, but what it does tell you is that Markey is clearly trusted within that yard. Getting 40 opportunities from a single trainer at this stage of a career is significant. It means someone believes in him enough to keep putting him up, and in this sport, that kind of loyalty is how young jockeys develop.

Where Markey genuinely catches the eye is on wet ground. When the going turns soft and the field has to work a little harder through the surface, he wins 2 races from every 11 — roughly 1 in 5 — which is a completely different figure to his overall average. That jump from 6% to 18% is too big to ignore. It could be that O'Sullivan's horses simply suit those conditions, or it could be that Markey himself has a natural feel for riding on trickier ground. Either way, it is the kind of detail that sticks in a betting person's mind. The next time the rain comes down before a race and Markey's name appears in the draw, that