Barely Made It

The horse has been partnered most often by Philip Donovan, and the pair have raced together five times without getting into the winner's enclosure. That's not necessarily a reflection on either horse or rider — sometimes a combination simply hasn't clicked, or the opportunities haven't fallen right — but five attempts without a place finish does suggest the partnership hasn't unlocked anything new.

Barely Made It is trained by Colin Bowe, who operates out of Enniscorthy in County Wexford and has sent out two winners from his yard so far this season. Bowe is a capable operator, so the horse is at least in professional hands. The fact that it raced just yesterday tells you the team is still actively campaigning it, still looking for the right opportunity. At nine, the window isn't getting any wider, but someone clearly believes there's a race to be won somewhere. Whether Barely Made It can justify that faith remains the open question.