Battle Of Mirbat

The most recent victory came at Down Royal in November 2025, about seven months ago, and before that he'd broken through at Leopardstown back in March 2023. Two of his three career wins — 18%, or roughly 2 in every 11 — have come on wet or muddy ground, which is a meaningful pattern. When the ground is soft and conditions are testing, Battle Of Mirbat tends to find another gear. It's the sort of detail that matters: if you see his name on a rainy day card, pay attention.

His current form reads 5-4-5-2 in his last four completed runs, which tells a fairly honest story — consistent enough, but not quite getting to the front. He hasn't won in his last six races, and his partnership with Sean O'Keeffe, who has ridden him in 14 of his 31 races, has produced just the 1 win together, a rate of around 1 in 14. That said, O'Keeffe clearly knows this horse well, and familiarity counts for something with an older, experienced animal.

He's trained by Michael J McDonagh out of Shannon, Co Clare — a yard that has sent out five winners already this season, suggesting things are ticking over nicely. Battle Of Mirbat raced just yesterday, so he's firmly in the mix and being kept busy. At nine, the window for big wins may be narrowing, but a horse who finds soft ground, a track he likes, and the right conditions can still be very dangerous. He hasn't forgotten how to win — it's just been a while.