The Sugarhill Lady

Her recent form reads 4-4-6-6-–-8, which tells a story of a horse who occasionally gets into the mix — two fourth-place finishes suggest she is not simply making up the numbers — but who has not yet been able to convert that into a place on the podium, let alone a win. Calum Hogan has ridden her six times without success, so there is an established partnership there, even if the results have not come.

What makes this interesting in context is the yard itself. McNamara's operation in Limerick has sent out 22 winners this season, which is a healthy, productive string — this is not a small outfit struggling for confidence. The Sugarhill Lady simply has not found her level yet, or perhaps has not yet found the right conditions to show what she can do. At six years old, she is not young, but she is clearly still being campaigned actively. Sometimes a horse just needs one thing to click. It has not clicked yet.