Ballaghkeen
Ballaghkeen broke through at Navan this week with a win over 1 mile 3 furlongs, finally delivering on the promise shown across eight races. The 3-year-old has been a slow burner — winning once and placing once from eight starts represents a 12% win rate — but that breakthrough at the distance where the horse runs best is a genuine turning point. Over 1 mile 3 furlongs to 1 mile 4 furlongs, Ballaghkeen has won 1 of 3 races, a 33% win rate that stands out sharply against the overall record and suggests this middle distance suits far better than anything shorter or longer.Based on TrackLab's analysis
📊 Key numbers
Career totals for this horse
🔍 Full analysis
Our model's view, based on this horse's career and recent runs
The recent form tells a story of a horse gradually finding its feet. In the last six races before this week's Navan victory, there were two places (a second and a sixth-place finish sandwiched between several unplaced efforts) but mostly disappointment. That ninth place at the start of the run, followed by struggles, suggested things might not click for this runner. But trainer J S Bolger's yard at Coolcullen has had eight winners this season, and Ballaghkeen's win suggests the team is steering the horse in the right direction. With racing still active just a day ago, there is momentum here — and for a young horse at this level, momentum after a first win can mean everything.
⚡ Strengths and risks
What helps this horse and what to watch out for
✓ What works in their favour
✔ Well suited by 1m3f – 1m4f distances: 33% win rate
🎯 Where this horse runs best
Results split by ground, distance, race level and track shape
🌧 Ground
Yielding (slightly soft)
Unknown
Good to yielding (mild give)
Unknown
Good (a little give)
Unknown
Standard (all-weather)
Unknown
🏟 Track shape
Left-handed, long straights
Loves
Right-handed, tight turns
Unknown
Right-handed, long straights
Avoids
📅 Recent runs
The last 10 races, most recent first
12 Oct
9th
Roscommon
1m6f – 2m · Soft · 19 runners
7 Oct
🏆 Won
Navan
1m3f – 1m4f · Yielding · 17 runners
28 Sep
12th
Down Royal
1m3f – 1m4f · Good_To_Yielding · 15 runners
5 Sep
6th
Navan
1m3f – 1m4f · Good · 24 runners
17 Oct
13th
Dundalk
7f – 1m · Standard · 15 runners
30 Sep
13th
Cork
1m1f – 1m2f · Yielding · 16 runners
16 Sep
7th
Punchestown
1m1f – 1m2f · Good_To_Yielding · 10 runners
17 Jul
6th
Leopardstown
1m1f – 1m2f · Good · 10 runners
🏇 Jockeys
Every jockey who has ridden this horse, most rides first
🏟 Course record
Win rate at each course this horse has visited
| Course | Races | Results | Last run | Win rate |
|---|
| Navan Galloping |
2 |
1 win, 1 other |
7 Oct |
50% |
| Punchestown Galloping |
1 |
1 other |
16 Sep |
0% |
| Dundalk Galloping |
1 |
1 other |
17 Oct |
0% |
| Leopardstown Galloping |
1 |
1 other |
17 Jul |
0% |
| Down Royal Galloping |
1 |
1 other |
28 Sep |
0% |
| Cork Galloping |
1 |
1 other |
30 Sep |
0% |
| Roscommon Sharp |
1 |
1 other |
12 Oct |
0% |