Monocle Rocket

That second-place finish stands out as the high point of a career that has otherwise been difficult to get excited about. The most recent form figures — finishing 11th, then 2nd, then 14th, then 5th, then 14th — paint a picture of a horse that blows hot and cold. The placed run shows ability is there somewhere; the two last-place finishes suggest it hasn't yet worked out how to reproduce that consistently. At three years old, that inconsistency isn't unusual — young horses are still learning the job — but it's something the team will need to iron out.

Monocle Rocket is trained by Daniel McLoughlin out of Newbridge in County Kildare, a yard that has sent out 9 winners already this season, which tells you the operation knows how to get horses to the line first. The fact that McLoughlin has winners on the board makes it harder to explain why this particular horse hasn't clicked yet, but it also means the expertise is there to find the right opportunity. Having raced just one day ago, Monocle Rocket is clearly fit and active — the team is not giving up on finding a race where things finally fall into place.