Mr D G Lavery

This season has been tougher. He has won 4 races from 54 rides — roughly 1 in every 14 — which represents a dip from last year's form, when he was winning at nearly twice that rate, closer to 1 in every 8. That kind of drop is worth watching. It could reflect a run of bad luck, a slightly weaker book of rides, or simply the natural rhythm of a career that hasn't yet fully hit its stride. At this stage, it is a blip rather than a crisis.

His most important relationship is with trainer Gavin Cromwell, and the numbers there tell a more encouraging story. From 37 rides for Cromwell, Lavery has won 4 — that's roughly 1 in every 9, a win rate of 11% that sits meaningfully above his overall season average. When a jockey consistently outperforms their general figures for one particular yard, it usually means genuine trust has been built. Cromwell keeps putting him up, and Lavery keeps delivering at a better-than-average clip for him.

One detail that stands out is his record on wet, muddy ground. From 7 races in those conditions, he has won 1 — 14%, or roughly 1 in every 7. That is his best win rate across any ground type, and while the sample is small, it suggests he is comfortable riding with confidence when conditions get testing. Some jockeys visibly struggle when the ground turns heavy; Lavery, at least so far, appears to handle it well. That is a useful string to have in your bow.

At 22 career winners and four years in, he is at the stage where the next step — pushing that season tally into double figures consistently — would mark him out as a jockey on the rise rather than one still finding his feet. This season hasn't quite delivered that yet, but the foundation is there.