Manton Bay

That Dundalk win came six months ago, and the fact that Manton Bay has continued to place rather than disappear down the rankings since then is encouraging. The recent form reads 6-1-3-2 in chronological order — a dip, then a win, then two solid placed efforts — which tells the story of a horse that ran below itself once, bounced back with a victory, and has been knocking on the door ever since. Racing just yesterday, Manton Bay is clearly in an active campaign right now.

Behind the horse is David Marnane's yard in Bansha, County Tipperary, an operation that has sent out 16 winners already this season. That is the output of a stable that knows how to get horses ready to run and ready to win. For a three-year-old still building its profile, being in the care of a yard firing at that rate is no small thing — it means the groundwork, the timing, and the preparation are all likely to be right when it matters.