Mr Finn Buckley(7)

The most telling number in Buckley's record is his partnership with trainer John C McConnell. From 24 rides together, they have combined for 3 winners — a win rate of 12%, or just over 1 in every 8. That is meaningfully better than his overall average, and it suggests McConnell has identified something in Buckley worth coming back to. When a trainer keeps putting a jockey up, it tends to mean they like what they see in the mornings, and that quiet confidence from the yard often translates to results over time.

Where Buckley looks most comfortable is on normal ground conditions. From 17 races on a standard surface, he has won 2 — a 12% win rate, again comfortably above his season average. It is a small but meaningful pattern: when the ground is fair and predictable, he seems to ride with more confidence and produce his best work. The challenge now is replicating that consistency when conditions change.

The one relationship that has yet to pay off is his three-race partnership with Walks The Talk, which has produced no wins so far. That is not necessarily a cause for concern — three races is a small sample — but it is a reminder that racing partnerships take time to click, and not every combination finds its rhythm quickly. Whether that changes with more opportunities remains to be seen.

Buckley is carrying a 7-pound weight allowance as an amateur rider, which makes him an attractive booking for trainers looking to manage a horse's weight in a race. The allowance will reduce as he rides more winners, so in a sense, now is the time to take notice. Jockeys at this stage of their career are either starting to accelerate or beginning to plateau — and the McConnell partnership suggests Buckley might just be on the rise.