Brian M McMahon

His most reliable partnership is with jockey James Smith, who has ridden 24 of McMahon's runners and come home in front on 2 of them — a win rate of around 1 in 12. That is roughly double McMahon's overall average, which suggests Smith either gets the best out of these horses or is simply put up when the team fancies their chances. Either way, it is the combination to watch when the two team up. Less fruitful has been the association with Cluain Chormaic, a horse McMahon has run 4 times without a win to show for it. Sometimes a horse and yard just do not click, and that one may need a change of scenery before it finds its best.

One small but interesting detail: McMahon's numbers on wet or muddy ground are noticeably better than his overall average — 1 winner from 13 runners on soft ground, which works out at 8%, or roughly 1 in 13. For a trainer at this level, having even one area where the results outperform the norm is worth paying attention to. When the forecast is poor and McMahon has a runner declared, it may be worth a second look.