Seamus Fahey

That said, there is a small but genuine green shoot here. Last season, Fahey did not win a single race. This season, he has one. That may sound modest, but going from zero to a measurable presence on the board is a real step for a yard still finding its feet. Four years in, the operation is young, and small yards with limited resources often spend their early seasons simply learning which horses suit which races.

His most-used jockey is Benjamin P Kennedy, who has been in the saddle 13 times for the yard without a winner to show for it. That is a partnership that has had plenty of chances without a breakthrough, which will be a source of frustration for both men. His standout horse, Jazz Dreamers, has run 28 times under Fahey's care for a single win — a record that tells you this is a horse that competes regularly but rarely threatens the winner's enclosure.

One figure that stands out in a small way: on normal ground, Fahey's horses have won 1 from 17 races, a win rate of 6%. That is three times better than his overall average, which suggests the yard's horses — or perhaps Fahey's race planning — suits standard conditions more than anything else. It is a narrow thread to pull on, but for a trainer looking for any edge, knowing where your best chance lies is worth something.

The honest summary is that Fahey's yard is at the very beginning of its story. One winner does not make a reputation, but it does make a start.