Eastmore

That recent run of form is genuinely eye-catching for a horse with this kind of overall record. Looking at the last six races in reverse order, Eastmore finished 11th, then won, then posted three consecutive runner-up finishes, and most recently finished third. In other words, after that Down Royal win, this horse has placed in five of its last six outings. For a six-year-old with a 5% win rate across its career — roughly 1 win in every 20 races — that kind of sustained placing is what keeps a horse active and competitive. It is the difference between a horse earning its keep and one that fades into the background.

The partnership with jockey Philip Byrnes is a long-running one — 13 races together, which is a real commitment — and they have one win to show for it, that Down Royal success. A win rate of around 1 in every 13 rides together is modest, but the consistency of the booking tells its own story about trust between horse and rider. Trainer C Byrnes, based in Ballingarry in County Limerick, has had a productive season with 26 winners sent out from the yard, so Eastmore is operating within a busy and clearly functioning set-up.

The horse raced just one day ago, which means it is very much in active campaign mode right now. Whether another win is on the horizon is hard to say — Eastmore has only managed 1 from 20 across its career — but the current form curve, all those second places stacking up, suggests a horse that is working hard and not far off when things fall right.