Four Blondes

And yet there are reasons to stay interested. Over her best trip of seven furlongs to a mile, she has won 1 from 12 races — not a standout number on the face of it, but the fact that her win and her most encouraging performances have clustered at that distance tells its own story. Trainer Ross O'Sullivan, whose yard in Kilcullen, Co Kildare has sent out 35 winners this season, clearly has a handle on where she fits best. After that Fairyhouse win he noted she can be a little difficult — a funny head carriage, a slightly saucy temperament — but described her as potentially progressive, which is trainer-speak for a horse whose ceiling hasn't quite been found yet.

The most revealing detail from O'Sullivan is that Fairyhouse itself seems to be the key. He has spoken about targeting her in sprint races over seven furlongs at that track specifically, pointing to the win there as evidence it really suits her. He also mentioned that she wouldn't mind the ground being a little softer and wetter underfoot, which is worth keeping in mind as the season wears on. Shane Foley, who rides her regularly and has been aboard for 6 of her 20 races, winning once together, clearly knows her quirks well enough to get the best out of her on the right day.

Four Blondes raced just yesterday, which means she is very much in the thick of her current campaign. She is the kind of horse who will frustrate — talented enough to place seven times from 20 races, but with a habit of leaving her wins a little too far apart. Get her back to Fairyhouse, over seven furlongs, on a soft day, and O'Sullivan's optimism might just prove well-founded.