V C Ward

The most telling detail is the relationship with Wonderwalk, a horse Ward has sent out 11 times without a win. Eleven races together is a significant investment of time and effort, and the fact that this is highlighted as the standout partnership suggests the yard's string is small and options are limited. Similarly, jockey Mr B M Coonan has partnered Ward's horses on 14 occasions without getting his head in front — that level of loyalty between trainer and jockey usually signals a tight-knit operation working within modest means.

None of this means Ward is going nowhere. Every trainer who has ever saddled a winner was once on a run without one, and four years in is still relatively early in a training career. But until the yard finds a way to convert runners into winners, it remains a yard to watch with curiosity rather than confidence.