Joshua Chamberlain

That single win came at Tramore in August 2023, and it remains the defining moment of his career — now 33 months in the rearview mirror. Tramore is a tight, quirky track on the south coast of Ireland, the kind of place that suits particular types of horse rather than all-rounders, and Joshua Chamberlain clearly found something he liked there. The trouble is he hasn't found it again since. His recent run of form reads 11-5-1-5-6-3, which tells you he has been at least competitive in patches — that third place just six runs ago and the win before it show he can still land a blow — but the overall picture is of a horse who finds ways to finish just outside the money more often than not.

His most regular partner in the saddle is Ricky Doyle, who has ridden him in eight of his 14 races and shares the one win on their combined record. That's a win rate of 12%, or roughly 1 in every 8 rides together — actually better than Joshua Chamberlain's overall average, which suggests Doyle at least gets the best out of him. Behind the scenes, he is trained by Gerard Keane, operating out of Trim in Co Meath. Keane's yard has sent out 10 winners this season, so this is not an outfit short of confidence or ability — Joshua Chamberlain is simply one of those horses that keeps you honest.

He raced just one day ago, which means he is very much in active training and his team clearly believe there is another day out there worth chasing. At nine, horses don't always improve — but they can find the right conditions, the right day, the right track. Joshua Chamberlain has done it once before. Whether Tramore or somewhere like it comes around again at the right moment is the question worth watching.