Cullig

The recent run of form tells a familiar story. Looking back across the last six races, Cullig has managed a second place and a fourth, with the rest offering nothing to write home about. That second place is the brightest recent signal that there's still something in the tank — finishing runner-up means it was competitive enough to beat most of the field on that day, just not quite everything. But consistent winning form? That's been harder to come by.

The partnership with jockey Simon Torrens is worth noting, though not necessarily for the right reasons. The pair have teamed up seven times and are yet to win together. That doesn't make either of them a lost cause — plenty of good horses and jockeys find their best results with different partners — but it's a combination that hasn't clicked yet. Cullig raced just yesterday, so it's very much an active campaign.

Behind the scenes, trainer Patrick T Foley operates out of Bagenalstown in County Carlow, and his yard has hit 12 winners so far this season — a decent return that suggests he knows what he's doing. Whether he can coax another win out of Cullig remains to be seen. The Cork victory showed this horse can find a way to the front when conditions are right. The challenge now is finding those conditions again.