Mark Rimell

The most compelling story in Rimell's yard right now is his partnership with Thapa Vc. Twelve wins from 68 races together is a record that goes beyond luck — that's the kind of number that tells you a trainer genuinely understands a horse, knows when to run it and when to give it time. For a yard of this size, having one horse you can rely on to keep winning is genuinely valuable.

When it comes to jockeys, Rimell's most productive working relationship is with Jack Mitchell. Three wins from 21 rides together works out at roughly 1 in every 7, or about 14%, which suggests a combination worth watching when the two team up. There's clearly a rapport there, and in a sport where the trainer-jockey relationship matters enormously, that consistency is a good sign.

This season, however, has been tougher. Rimell is currently winning with 6 from 78 runners — roughly 1 in every 13 races, or about 8%. That's a dip from last year's 14%, and while one below-par season doesn't define a trainer, it's the kind of run that tests a yard's resolve. On fast, dry ground, he has won 1 from 8 races at around 12%, which hints that better conditions may suit his horses — something to keep in mind as the season progresses.

Rimell is still a trainer in the making rather than one at the peak of his powers, and that's not a criticism — it's simply where four years of experience puts you. The partnership with Thapa Vc gives him a genuine calling card, and if his win rate can climb back towards last season's level, there's every reason to think the next four years will look considerably busier than the first.