Ballydangan

But there are pockets where this horse genuinely excels. At Hexham, his local track in the north, Ballydangan has won 2 of his 6 races there — a 33% return that marks him out as a course specialist. His last victory came there on 3 October 2025, which means he has now gone a full year without another win. When Peter Kavanagh has been in the saddle, the partnership clicks: Kavanagh has ridden him 10 times and won twice, a 20% win rate that is nearly three times better than his overall record. Most tellingly, Ballydangan absolutely thrives on slightly soft ground, winning 2 of 6 races (33%) when the track is damp and holding.

Trainer Hugh Burns runs a modest operation from Alnwick in Northumberland, and Ballydangan remains an active part of the yard. His recent form tells the story of a horse who has lost his way — in his last six races he has not won once, though he has picked up places in four of them, meaning he keeps running decently without finding the winner's enclosure. He typically competes in Class 5 races, the lower-tier events, where he has won 2 of 12 starts. At nine years old, Ballydangan is still racing and still capable of another win, especially if conditions favour him and he ends up back at Hexham with Peter Kavanagh aboard.