Appian Way

Those two wins came in quick succession back in autumn 2022 — first at Clonmel on 29 September, then at Downpatrick just eight days later on 7 October. That was 46 months ago, and nothing has come since. Not a single win from the races that followed. For context, that's nearly four years of racing without a return to the winner's circle, which at this level is a long time to keep turning up without reward.

The partnership with jockey Ethan O'Sullivan hasn't cracked the code either. They've been paired together 10 times and are yet to win together — 0 from 10 is a tough run for any combination, and the recent form figures of finishing sixth, seventh, and ninth in the last few outings suggest the spark isn't coming any time soon. The yard, trained by Ms M Flynn out of Stradbally in County Waterford, has sent out just one winner this season, so this isn't a powerful operation throwing resources at a problem — it's a small team keeping a horse in work and hoping.

What's quietly remarkable is that Appian Way is still actively racing at 10 years old, having run just yesterday. That's a level of durability you don't always see, even if the results haven't matched the commitment. At this stage of a career with a 4% win rate and form figures that tail off into double digits, the honest assessment is that a third win would be a genuine surprise — but stranger things have happened, and this horse has already shown it can find the front when the day is right.