Smackwater Jack

His recent form reads 9, pulled up, 10, 7, 4, 5 going back through his last six runs, which tells you he has been finding it hard to get competitive at the sharp end. A pulled-up run is always worth noting — it means he did not finish the race at all — and sandwiched between two poor finishing positions, it suggests there have been some difficult days. That said, he raced just yesterday, which means Denise Foster's yard clearly believes there is still something left in the tank.

Foster, based at Longwood in County Meath, has sent out four winners this season and has spoken warmly about Smackwater Jack's potential as a staying chaser — a horse who gets better the further the trip. She noted a promising start over fences at Aintree at some point in his career, cut short by an 18-month absence, and her sense was always that he had more to offer when he returned to full fitness. Whether that version of the horse has fully arrived is a fair question given his recent results, but the trainer has clearly not given up.

E Walsh rides him most often and has won once from five attempts aboard him — a 20% win rate from their partnership, which is actually a decent ratio and significantly better than his overall career average. When Walsh is in the saddle, Smackwater Jack gives himself a fighting chance. At 12, he is in the veteran stage for a racehorse, but as long as he is racing and the team believes he can be competitive, there is no reason not to keep watching — especially if he turns up again at Punchestown.