Georginas Jet

The last six runs tell a more interesting tale than the overall record might suggest. Back-to-back third-place finishes were followed by a second — three consecutive placings that showed the horse was finding its rhythm and knocking on the door. Then things went quiet, with a string of unplaced efforts, and the most recent two runs have produced nothing of note. Whether that dip represents a horse that had its moment and faded, or simply one going through a rough patch, is the question the trainer will be asking.

That trainer is Paul John Gilligan, based in Athenry, County Galway. The yard has sent out five winners this season, which suggests it isn't short of ability — and that Georginas Jet, despite the blank scorecard, is operating in a setup that knows how to get horses to the winner's enclosure. The fact that the horse raced just one day ago points to an active campaign, which at least means Gilligan is keeping faith with it and looking for the right opportunity.

Twelve races without a win is a long road. But three places from those twelve — roughly one in every four races producing a finish in the frame — means this isn't a horse that simply trails in at the back. It competes. It just hasn't found that extra gear when it matters most. For a horse still only five years old and with an active trainer behind it, the door isn't completely shut — but it's getting narrower with every outing that ends without a visit to the winners' enclosure.