Look at the last six races and a different picture emerges: a second, a first, a fourth, and another second among them. Albatala has clearly hit a purple patch, and the Down Royal victory looks less like a fluke and more like the payoff for a horse that has been knocking on the door. The trip also matters here. At a mile and three furlongs to a mile and four furlongs, Albatala has won one from four races — a 25% win rate, or one in every four attempts at that distance. For a horse who wins just one in twenty overall, that is a striking contrast. Get the trip right and this horse is a completely different proposition.
Behind the scenes, Albatala is trained by John C McConnell, operating out of Stamullen in County Meath. McConnell's yard has sent out 36 winners already this season, which tells you this is not a small operation running on hope — it is a yard that knows how to get a horse ready to win. The fact that Albatala is still racing, having run just one day ago, suggests the team are pressing their advantage while the horse is in form. When a trainer keeps a horse busy after a long-awaited first win, it usually means they believe there is more to come. With the right trip and this current momentum, Albatala is worth keeping a close eye on.
| Course | Races | Results | Last visited | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fairyhouse Galloping |
5 | 5 other | 5 Jun | 0% |
| Down Royal Galloping |
3 | 1 win, 2 seconds | 20 Jun | 33.3% |
| Ballinrobe Sharp |
2 | 2 other | 22 Jul | 0% |
| Galway Tight |
1 | 1 other | 30 Jul | 0% |
| Kilbeggan Tight |
1 | 1 other | 24 Apr | 0% |
| Musselburgh Sharp |
1 | 1 other | 2 Feb | 0% |
| Gowran Park Undulating |
1 | 1 other | 23 May | 0% |
| Sligo Sharp |
1 | 1 second | 12 Jul | 0% |
| Navan Galloping |
1 | 1 other | 4 Oct | 0% |
| Dundalk Galloping |
1 | 1 other | 8 Nov | 0% |
| The Curragh Galloping |
1 | 1 second | 12 Oct | 0% |
| Roscommon Sharp |
1 | 1 other | 15 Aug | 0% |
| Downpatrick Undulating |
1 | 1 other | 16 Jun | 0% |