Patrick J Duffy

The most striking pattern in his record is his partnership with Maxicourt, a horse he has run ten times without winning. That the same horse accounts for every single runner in his career record tells you something about the size of the operation — this is a small, tightly focused yard, not a sprawling stable with dozens of horses in different divisions. Whether Maxicourt can finally get his head in front will likely define how Duffy's next chapter as a trainer reads.

Four years in, patience is still the watchword here. Small yards can take time to find their feet, and a first winner, when it comes, will mean a great deal to this team.