Nephin Mountain

That said, context matters. Mulvany's yard has sent out 20 winners this season, which shows there is genuine ability in the operation — the trainer clearly knows how to get horses ready to win. Nephin Mountain simply hasn't found its moment yet. The best finishes so far have been a pair of fourth-place efforts, which at least suggests the horse isn't trailing in hopelessly at the back of the field every time out.

At just three years old, and with a race as recently as yesterday, the book is far from closed. Young horses can take time to click, and six races is still a relatively small sample for a horse finding its feet. Whether better ground, a different track, or simply a bit more time and experience unlocks something — that remains to be seen. For now, Nephin Mountain is a horse in search of its first breakthrough.