Berto Ramirez

That sole win came at Down Royal on 4th May 2026, just three weeks ago, and the form since has been encouraging — a fourth and a first in the two most recent runs, suggesting the horse is in the best shape of its career right now. It raced again just yesterday, so this is a horse very much in the thick of its season, active and being kept busy by the McNamara team.

The most striking fact about Berto Ramirez is what happens when the races get long. Over trips of two miles or more, it has won 1 from 5 races — a 20% win rate, or 1 in every 5. That is more than three times its overall rate, and that kind of gap between short and long distances is not a coincidence. It tells you the horse genuinely stays, that it finds its rhythm when there is plenty of race to run, and that the yard have found the right conditions for it to be competitive. Put it in a sprint and it disappears. Give it room to travel and it becomes a different animal.

The one question mark is the partnership with jockey Luke McAteer, who has ridden Berto Ramirez 10 times without a win between them. That is a long run together without getting the job done, though the recent victory at Down Royal breaks the narrative somewhat. McNamara's yard has sent out 7 winners this season, so this is not a stable short of confidence or form. Whether McAteer was in the saddle for that Down Royal win is worth knowing — but either way, Berto Ramirez is finally delivering on what those long-distance numbers have been hinting at for some time.