Denis Paul Murphy

The most telling detail in his record is the partnership with Lough Derg Spirit, a horse he has saddled six times without getting to the winner's enclosure. Six races together and no wins is a tough run for any combination, but it also tells you something about where Murphy currently operates — patient, persistent, and still searching for the result that kickstarts everything.

Plenty of trainers have gone through lean early spells before finding their feet. Murphy has runners, which means owners trust him enough to keep horses in his yard. The winners haven't come yet, but in a sport where timing and luck matter almost as much as horsemanship, the first one can change the picture quickly.