Yewtree Hill

That said, there is something quietly intriguing about a horse still running at this level at nine. Trainer Cian Collins has sent out 20 winners from his yard this season, which shows the operation knows how to get a horse ready to win. The puzzle, then, is why Yewtree Hill hasn't been able to convert. The most recent finishes — a pair of fourths sandwiched around a fifth — suggest a horse that competes honestly enough but simply doesn't have that final gear when it matters. Fourth and fifth are the results of a horse trying, just not quite good enough.

The pulled-up run is the one worth noting. In a career this short, any blank on the scorecard stands out, and whatever happened that day set the tone for a sequence that has gone nowhere near the winner's enclosure. Collins and his team will know this horse better than anyone, and the fact that Yewtree Hill is still active and being pointed at races suggests they see something worth persevering with. Whether that patience is eventually rewarded is the only real question left to answer.