James Evans

His most reliable ally in the saddle has been jockey Joe Leavy, who has partnered Evans-trained horses to 2 wins from 24 rides together. That's roughly 1 in every 12, which isn't spectacular on paper, but in a sport where trainer-jockey partnerships often take time to click, it represents a working relationship worth building on.

One of the more intriguing footnotes in Evans's record is his partnership with Kapamazov — 14 races together and still no winner. Fourteen is a lot. It suggests a horse that keeps running without quite delivering, and for a small yard where every runner costs time and money, that's a frustrating column to keep adding to.

Where Evans does show a clear edge is when the ground gets soft underfoot. On wet or slightly heavy ground, his horses win 2 from 15 races — roughly 1 in 7 — which is nearly double his overall rate this season. That's not a coincidence. It suggests Evans either knows how to place his horses to suit those conditions, or simply has horses in his string that come alive when the ground gives a little beneath them. Either way, it's the kind of pattern that sharp observers notice.

At 70 career winners in four years, Evans is doing what most young trainers hope to do — learning, surviving, and occasionally thriving. The dip in results this season is something to monitor, but one good winter on soft ground could change the complexion of his year entirely.