Cher Tara

The most telling detail in Cher Tara's record is actually the place column. Six places from 22 races tells you this is a horse that shows up and competes — it just has not quite managed to get its nose in front. Recent form of 5-8-6-3-3-7 paints a picture of a horse bobbing around the mid-field, close enough to threaten but rarely close enough to win. The pair of thirds in there suggest the ability exists on the right day.

What stands out is how little Cher Tara has managed at its most common level of competition. Seven races at Class 5 — which is where much of British racing's everyday action takes place — have produced zero wins. Not one. That is a puzzle, because the horse has clearly been capable of winning, as Down Royal demonstrated. Whether it needs a particular type of track, a particular day, or just the right run of luck is the question Daragh Bourke's yard at Waterbeck will be trying to answer.

Bourke has sent out 10 winners this season, which shows the yard is functioning well, and Danny Gilligan — who rides Cher Tara most often — has won 1 from their 5 races together, a rate of roughly 1 in 5. That is actually a decent return for a partnership, even if the horse's overall numbers are modest. Cher Tara raced just yesterday, which means it is fit and active, and at seven years old there is still time to add to that single win — though the clock is not unlimited. For now, one memorable day at Down Royal is the whole story, and the team will be hoping it is not the last chapter.