Al Suil Eile

What sets this horse apart is its remarkable loyalty to Southwell. Across 22 races at the track, it has won 5 times — more than a quarter of its entire career wins coming from one course. That is the mark of a specialist, a horse that handles the particular surface and layout at Southwell better than anywhere else. Its last win came there on 11 March 2025, though that victory now sits over a year back. The horse also shows a clear preference for the 1m1f to 1m2f distance band, winning 4 times from 17 races at that trip (roughly one win every four races) — nearly double its overall win rate. When stepped up or dropped down in trip, it has struggled to recapture that form.

Trainer Derek Shaw, based at Sproxton in Leicestershire, has worked with Al Suil Eile for much of its career, and the horse has been a loyal if unspectacular operator for the yard. Jockey Laura Pearson has had the best record in the saddle, winning 2 of 8 races together at a 25% clip — well above the horse's overall rate. At its preferred trip and course, with the right conditions, there are still wins to be found in this horse. What remains to be seen is whether age and a recent dip in form have taken the edge off what was never a spectacular talent to begin with.