Johnny M

The recent form makes for mixed reading. His last six races show a couple of blanks, a second, a seventh, a tenth, and a third — so the form is patchy rather than progressive, and there's no obvious momentum building toward a first victory. That said, he raced just yesterday, which means McNamara clearly still believes there's something worth chasing here. You don't keep running a horse at eight years old unless you think the opportunity is still out there somewhere.

McNamara's yard has been in good nick this season, sending out 22 winners — a tally that suggests this is a yard that knows how to get horses to perform. The fact that Johnny M hasn't broken through yet isn't for lack of professional support. Back in late 2022, McNamara spoke warmly about the horse when he first arrived, describing him as a lovely individual with real potential. That promise hasn't quite translated into wins, but McNamara's continued faith — evidenced by keeping him in active training and racing as recently as yesterday — suggests the door hasn't been closed on him yet. For Johnny M, the clock is ticking, but it's not quite at midnight.