Harriet Dickin

The most telling number in her operation right now is the partnership with jockey James Best. Across 59 rides together, they've combined for just 1 win — about 1 in every 59 races — which is a thin return for what is clearly her most-used jockey relationship. When your most frequent collaboration is also your least productive, it raises questions about whether the combination is bringing out the best in the horses, or whether the yard is simply going through a lean spell across the board.

There's also the curious case of Rest Is The Best, a horse that sounds like it should be doing exactly that — resting on its laurels — but has yet to get its head in front across 6 races with Dickin. Six runs without a win isn't a crisis, but it does suggest a horse that keeps promising more than it delivers. At some point, the team will need to find a different angle with it.

The honest picture here is of a trainer who showed real promise in her early years and still has 24 career winners to her name, which is a meaningful achievement for someone only four seasons in. The current dip is sharp enough to be worth noting, but four years is still a short career — plenty of established trainers have had a difficult season and come back stronger. Whether Dickin can reverse the slide and get back closer to that 9% mark will be the story to watch as the season continues.