That said, the recent form offers a small thread of encouragement. The last two results before yesterday's run were both fifth-place finishes, and if you scroll back through the six most recent races, there are a couple of fours and fives in there alongside some heavier defeats — an eleventh and a sixteenth that suggest some days are considerably better than others. A horse that can run fifth is not hopelessly out of its depth; it just hasn't managed to put together a complete performance when it matters.
Buchanan's yard has sent out one winner this season, so this is a small operation where every result counts. Microscope raced just yesterday, which at least confirms it is fit, active, and still being campaigned with purpose. At seven, the window for a first win is not closing yet, but it is no longer wide open either. For now, Microscope remains one of those horses that keeps turning up without quite delivering — and whether that changes is the only question left worth asking.
| Course | Races | Results | Last visited | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Downpatrick Undulating |
3 | 3 other | 29 Mar | 0% |
| Navan Galloping |
1 | 1 other | 21 Mar | 0% |
| Down Royal Galloping |
1 | 1 other | 20 Jan | 0% |
| Kilbeggan Tight |
1 | 1 other | 24 Apr | 0% |