Forlio

The horse runs best over a mile and three to four furlongs, distances where he has won 2 of his 12 races (17 percent). This is respectable form for a horse at his level, and it gives the yard something to target. He raced just a day ago and was unplaced, but his recent form has been mixed — a win, then places at Tramore and elsewhere, interspersed with runs outside the frame. When Colin Keane rides him, the results improve noticeably: the jockey has won 2 of his 6 races with Forlio (33 percent), more than treble the horse's overall win rate. That kind of partnership matters in racing.

Paul W Flynn trains the horse from his yard at Colehill in County Longford. The trainer has sent out 22 winners this season, which is solid output, and plainly knows how to keep horses like Forlio competitive. At Class 5 level, Forlio has not won in three attempts, suggesting he struggles when stepped up in grade, but at the tracks and distances that suit him, with the right jockey in the saddle, he remains a horse worth watching. He is not a dazzler, but he is genuine — the kind of horse that earns his keep and occasionally rewards patient punters.