Paul John Gilligan

The most revealing number in Gilligan's book is what happens when the ground turns wet and muddy. On soft or heavy ground, his runners win 2 from 18 races — around 1 in every 9 — compared to just 1 in 32 overall. That is a meaningful difference, and it suggests Gilligan has a real feel for placing horses in conditions that suit them. When the rain comes down, it is worth paying attention to what he saddles.

His most notable partnership is with the horse Kings Hill, who has won 2 of their 20 races together. That might not sound like much, but sticking with the same horse across 20 races tells you something about the trust and continuity within the yard. Gilligan also works closely with jockey Jack G Gilligan — almost certainly a family connection — who has been aboard for 84 of his runners, resulting in 2 wins. At roughly 1 win in every 42 rides together, it is not a partnership built on frequency of success, but the sheer volume of rides speaks to a close working relationship at the core of the operation.

Five winners from 160 runners is not the stuff of headlines, but every training career has to start somewhere. Gilligan is four years in, he has identified at least one condition — wet ground — where his horses punch above their weight, and he has a steady working partnership with a jockey who clearly trusts the yard. The foundations are modest, but they are foundations.