Black Bamboo
Black Bamboo is nine years old and still racing, which tells you something about the horse's durability if not its brilliance. Over a career spanning nearly three years, the horse has won just twice from 23 races—roughly one win in every eleven attempts. Those victories came early: the first at Limerick in February 2022, the second at Cork in October 2023. Since that Cork win 35 months ago, Black Bamboo has not tasted success again, though it has managed a place in four of those recent races, most notably finishing fourth just days ago.Based on TrackLab's AI analysis
Owner
Threedownoneup Syndicate
📊 Key Numbers
Career statistics for this horse
34.8%
Place rate (top 3)
avg ~30%
🔍 Full Analysis
TrackLab's AI-generated assessment based on career data and recent form
The numbers suggest a horse that knows how to run but rarely excels. When stepped up to compete against top-class opposition, Black Bamboo has failed to win in three attempts, finishing outside the medals each time. Trainer John Joseph Murphy, whose yard has produced eight winners this season, has kept the horse active and racing regularly, but the lack of recent success and the long drought since that 2023 victory paint a picture of a horse operating at a level where it struggles to win. What is notable is the partnership with Sean Flanagan in the saddle—they have not managed a single win together across seven races, a pairing that has not clicked. Black Bamboo remains in work and still competing, which speaks to the horse's soundness and the trainer's faith that there may be more to come, even if the evidence of recent months suggests otherwise.
⚡ Strengths & Risks
What the data says works for and against this horse
✓ What works in their favour
✔ Excellent record on soft ground: 1 wins from 6 starts (17%)
✔ Excellent record on yielding_to_soft ground: 1 wins from 3 starts (33%)
⚠ What to watch out for
⚠ Poor record on good ground: 0 wins from 4 starts
⚠ Poor record on yielding ground: 0 wins from 4 starts
⚠ Poor record on good_to_yielding ground: 0 wins from 3 starts
⚠ Yet to win at Killarney in 5 attempts
⚠ Struggles on LH Galloping tracks: 0 wins from 9 starts
⚠ Struggles on LH Sharp tracks: 0 wins from 5 starts
🎯 Where This Horse Thrives
Performance broken down by ground, distance, class, and track type
🌧 Ground Conditions
Yielding to soft (damp)
Loves
Soft to heavy (wet)
Unknown
Good to soft (some give)
Unknown
Yielding (slightly soft)
Avoids
Good to yielding (mild give)
Avoids
📏 Race Distance
Long Distance (2M+)
Likes
🏟 Track Shape
Right-handed, long straights
Loves
Right-handed, hilly
Unknown
Right-handed, tight
Unknown
Left-handed, long straights
Avoids
Left-handed, tight turns
Avoids
📅 Recent Runs
The last 10 races, most recent first
20 Aug
10th
Killarney
Long Distance (2m+) · Good · 10 runners
18 Jan
9th
Thurles
1m6f – 2m · Yielding · 13 runners
14 Dec
17th
Navan
Long Distance (2m+) · Soft_To_Heavy · 19 runners
29 Nov
13th
Fairyhouse
Long Distance (2m+) · Yielding_To_Soft · 22 runners
12 May
4th
Killarney
Long Distance (2m+) · Yielding · 13 runners
2 May
DNF
Punchestown
Long Distance (2m+) · Yielding_To_Soft · 45 runners
22 Mar
8th
Navan
Long Distance (2m+) · Soft · 16 runners
3 Mar
3rd
Leopardstown
Long Distance (2m+) · Yielding · 8 runners
23 Jan
8th
Gowran Park
Long Distance (2m+) · Soft_To_Heavy · 14 runners
28 Dec
7th
Leopardstown
Long Distance (2m+) · Good_To_Yielding · 7 runners
🏇 Jockey Partnerships
Every jockey who has ridden this horse, sorted by rides together
🏟 Track Record
Win rate at each course this horse has visited
| Course | Races | Results | Last visited | Win rate |
|---|
| Killarney Sharp |
5 |
2 seconds, 3 other |
20 Aug |
0% |
| Leopardstown Galloping |
4 |
1 third, 3 other |
3 Mar |
0% |
| Punchestown Galloping |
2 |
1 third, 1 other |
2 May |
0% |
| Navan Galloping |
2 |
2 other |
14 Dec |
0% |
| Cheltenham Galloping |
2 |
2 other |
13 Mar |
0% |
| Cork Galloping |
1 |
1 win |
15 Oct |
100% |
| Limerick Galloping |
1 |
1 win |
1 Feb |
100% |
| Down Royal Galloping |
1 |
1 third |
26 Dec |
0% |
| Thurles Undulating |
1 |
1 other |
18 Jan |
0% |
| Aintree Galloping |
1 |
1 other |
13 Apr |
0% |
| Galway Tight |
1 |
1 third |
2 Aug |
0% |
| Fairyhouse Galloping |
1 |
1 other |
29 Nov |
0% |
| Gowran Park Undulating |
1 |
1 other |
23 Jan |
0% |