Rose Of Knocknamoe

What makes the situation more interesting is who is doing the waiting. Fergal O'Brien's yard in Withington, Gloucestershire has sent out 90 winners already this season, which tells you this is not a small operation running on hope. O'Brien is a trainer with serious firepower, and when a yard is operating at that kind of volume, the horses that haven't yet broken their duck aren't forgotten — they're just waiting for the right moment. The question for Rose Of Knocknamoe is whether that moment arrives before too long.

Two races is a very small sample, and six is still a young enough age that there is time to find her feet. But the burden of proof is beginning to shift. A place without a win suggests ability without the finishing kick, or perhaps a horse still working out what racing actually asks of it. O'Brien will have seen plenty of both. Whether Rose Of Knocknamoe is a winner waiting to happen or simply a horse finding her level is something the next few runs will start to answer.