Beauforts Storm

Trained by Timothy Doyle out of Moyne in County Tipperary, the seven-year-old picked up its first win at Cork back in July 2023, then went more than 16 months before landing its second at Thurles in November 2024. That Thurles win now sits 20 months in the past, and the six races since have produced nothing better than a second place — the form reading 7, blank, 2, 7, 7, 5 coming into today. The second place is the flicker of hope in there; the rest is a horse treading water.

The most familiar face in the saddle has been Mr D Doyle, who has partnered Beauforts Storm in 20 of those 26 races. Together they've won 2 of those 20 — about 1 in every 10 — which is a modest record but speaks to a long-running partnership. When you spend that much time on the same horse, you know every habit and hesitation it has. The Doyle yard has sent out just 2 winners this season in total, so Beauforts Storm's contribution represents a meaningful share of what the stable has managed.

At seven, this horse is well into its career and knows its way around a racecourse. It raced just yesterday, which means it's clearly in good enough shape to keep running. Whether another win is coming is harder to say — 20 months is a long time between victories, and recent runs suggest a horse finding reasons to finish mid-pack rather than challenge at the front. But it has done it before, twice, and a placed finish is a placed finish. Beauforts Storm is the kind of horse that won't win often, but on the right day, in the right race, it has a habit of still being there when it matters.