David Rees

The most intriguing thread running through his record is his partnership with Esperti. Three wins from 20 races together makes that horse something of a yard favourite — it accounts for all of Rees's winners over a sustained sample, which tells you that when Esperti lines up, something tends to happen. For a small operation still finding its feet, having one horse you can genuinely rely on is worth more than it sounds.

Less easy to explain is the combination with jockey Shane Fenelon. Eleven rides together and not a single win — 0 from 11 — which is the kind of record that quietly raises questions. It may simply be the luck of the draw, with those rides coming in tougher races or on difficult days. But it is a pairing that has yet to click, and at some point a trainer has to weigh that up.

At four years in, Rees is still very much at the stage where momentum and direction matter more than raw totals. The improvement from 7% to 10% suggests a yard that is learning, sharpening, and finding its level. The next step is turning that trend into something more consistent — and ideally finding a few more horses that perform the way Esperti does.