Bertutea

The career numbers so far are modest — 1 win and 2 places from 5 races, a win rate of roughly 1 in 5 — but they tell a story of steady progress rather than stagnation. The two placed runs in France suggested he had ability before he even arrived in Ireland, and the Limerick win confirmed it. O'Keeffe also flagged that he suspects Bertutea might be even better on faster, drier ground, which means what we have seen so far may not yet be his best.

The yard he has landed in is one of the most powerful operations in jump racing. Willie Mullins, based at Muine Bheag in County Carlow, has sent out 220 winners already this season alone — that is not a stable that runs horses without a plan. Earlier in the season, Mullins floated the idea that Bertutea could be aimed at the Triumph Hurdle, one of the most prestigious 4-year-old races in the calendar, or alternatively the Fred Winter, a top handicap race at the Cheltenham Festival. Either path would represent a significant step up. The fact that both were mentioned at all is a signal of genuine belief in what this horse might become.