Avandra

The partnership with jockey Simon Torrens has had five chances to click, and none of them have produced a win. That does not necessarily reflect badly on either horse or rider — sometimes a combination simply needs a different set of circumstances — but five attempts without a return is a notable stat. The fact she has been kept in training and raced this frequently suggests there is belief somewhere that the right race is still out there for her.

She is trained by P J Rothwell at Tinahely in County Wicklow, and the yard is clearly capable — 35 winners on the board this season is a healthy return that shows Rothwell knows how to get horses ready to win. The challenge is finding the right conditions and the right race for Avandra herself. Thirty-five winners in a yard means the trainer understands what horses need; the puzzle here is simply unlocking whatever Avandra needs to be at her best. At six years old, time is not unlimited, but horses can and do find their moment later than expected.