Glen And Tonic

The recent form makes for interesting reading. In the last six races, Glen And Tonic has finished third, seventh, fifth, second, third, and sixth — which means there are moments of real promise buried in there. That second-place finish stands out in particular. Getting that close and not winning is the kind of result that keeps a team hopeful, because it shows the ability is there, even if the timing and circumstances haven't clicked into place yet.

Luke McAteer has been the regular partner, riding Glen And Tonic in seven of those eight races without a win between them. That's a long-running combination still waiting for its moment, though loyalty to a partnership at this stage of a young horse's career usually means the trainer believes the pieces will eventually fall into place. David Marnane, based at Bansha in County Tipperary, is clearly a yard in form this season — 16 winners sent out already tells you this is an operation that knows how to prepare horses to win. When a trainer with that kind of season record keeps running a horse, it generally means they see something worth persisting with.

Glen And Tonic raced just yesterday, so this is very much a horse in the middle of an active campaign. At three, there is still plenty of time and plenty of races ahead. Some horses take longer than others to put it all together, and a horse that finishes second and third regularly isn't far off — it just needs one race where everything lines up.