Le Fanu

Based at Doneraile in County Cork, Walsh has sent out three winners this season, so the yard is clearly capable of getting horses to the line first. Le Fanu just hasn't been one of them — not once across 17 attempts. To put that in perspective, a horse that wins even 1 in every 10 races is considered relatively modest. This one is sitting at 0 from 17, with only two podium finishes to its name.

That said, the recent form tells a slightly more nuanced story. The last six runs read 7-10-3-5-5-4, working backwards from the most recent — and that third-place finish tucked in there suggests the ability to get involved, at least occasionally. The two most recent outings produced fourth and fifth, which isn't spectacular but isn't embarrassing either. There's a horse here that's competing, finishing in the mix on its day, rather than trailing home at the back of the field. And crucially, Le Fanu raced just one day ago, so whatever you make of the record, nobody's given up on this horse yet.

What makes a horse like Le Fanu interesting isn't the trophy cabinet — there isn't one. It's the persistence. Ten years old, 17 races deep into a career without a single win, and still lining up. Racing has plenty of stars; it has far fewer stories about the ones who keep showing up anyway.