Rock Basher

At seven years old, Rock Basher is no youngster, and the recent form makes for uncomfortable reading. The last six runs have produced finishes of fifth, fifth, sixth, ninth, sixth, and tenth — and that sequence is listed most recent last, meaning things have actually been getting worse, not better. A couple of fifth-place efforts suggest there were moments of promise, but ninth and tenth place finishes are the kind of results that make you wonder if the horse is finding its level.

The partnership with jockey Nathan Crosse has not cracked the code either. Five rides together, no wins — though it would be unfair to lay that at anyone's door given the horse has not won from any of its 22 career attempts. Trainer Aidan Melia, based in Monasterevin in County Kildare, has managed two winners from his yard this season, so Rock Basher is not alone in making life difficult — but winners have clearly been hard to come by.

What does keep this profile from being entirely gloomy is the fact that Rock Basher raced just yesterday, which means the team has not given up. There is something quietly stubborn about a horse that keeps being entered, keeps showing up, and keeps finishing close enough to matter on occasion. Whether that persistence eventually turns into a first win is the question every the yard — sorry, every trainer and owner — must be asking themselves. At this stage of a career, with the clock ticking and no wins on the board, the first one would feel like a very long time coming.