Money Heist

That Clonmel win is worth dwelling on, because it was arguably the best he has looked. Jockey Keith Donoghue, who knows him better than anyone having ridden him to all three of his career victories, described him travelling far more easily than usual and producing big jumps when it mattered most. That kind of feel — a horse suddenly clicking into gear — is exactly what a jockey notices. Donoghue flagged that the cheekpieces helped him concentrate, and that he had the scope to step up in distance. Trainer Gavin Cromwell was similarly encouraged after a run at Naas, where Money Heist jumped enthusiastically and travelled well, even if he was a little wayward at the final fence.

The partnership between horse and jockey is genuinely the most compelling thread in his story. Donoghue has been on board for 13 of his 22 races and they have won together 3 times — a win rate of 23%, or roughly 1 in every 4½ rides. That is considerably better than Money Heist's overall record suggests he is capable of, and it points to a horse who responds to familiarity and confidence rather than just turning up and performing.

His recent form, however, tells a harder story. His last six races have produced nothing better than a second place, and that came five runs ago. Since then: seventh, tenth, sixth, fourth, and a pulled-up run that suggests something was simply not right on the day. He raced just yesterday, so clearly the yard still believes there is a race to be won somewhere — and at nine, horses can still produce the odd surprise. But the gap back to that Clonmel win is long, the form line is pointing in the wrong direction, and for Money Heist to add a fourth career victory at this stage, everything would need to fall his way. Donoghue in the saddle would be a decent start.