Bold Optimist
Bold Optimist is a six-year-old with a modest record to show for its years in the game: three wins and eight places from 24 races, which works out to roughly one win every eight outings. The horse has not tasted victory since August 2024 at The Curragh, meaning it has now gone 25 months without a win — a long drought that suggests it is operating at the lower end of its capabilities or has simply not found the right race at the right time. Recent form has been unkind. In its last six races, it has managed just one third-place finish, with two fourth-place runs and a sixth sandwiched between two completely out-of-the-frame efforts. That 11-3-2-4-6-3 sequence tells the story of a horse struggling to get competitive.Based on TrackLab's AI analysis
📊 Key Numbers
Career statistics for this horse
33.3%
Place rate (top 3)
avg ~30%
🏁 Next Race
Tomorrow
Navan
About 5 furlongs · Slightly soft ground · 18 runners
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🔍 Full Analysis
TrackLab's AI-generated assessment based on career data and recent form
The one bright spot in Bold Optimist's record is its partnership with Ben Coen, who has ridden it eight times and won twice from those mounts — a 25 percent win rate that is roughly double the horse's career average. When Coen is in the saddle, something clicks, and that is worth noting for anyone watching the entries. The horse is trained by Daniel McLoughlin, whose yard at Newbridge has been steady rather than spectacular this season, sending out nine winners so far. Bold Optimist remains active — it raced just days ago — but with three wins in 24 attempts and a worrying blank spell, it appears to be a horse better suited to competitive races than prestigious ones. For those who back it, the sensible strategy would be to wait for a race that suits its profile and hope that Ben Coen gets the ride.
⚡ Strengths & Risks
What the data says works for and against this horse
✓ What works in their favour
✔ Excellent record on standard ground: 1 wins from 5 starts (20%)
🎯 Where This Horse Thrives
Performance broken down by ground, distance, class, and track type
🌧 Ground Conditions
Standard (all-weather)
Loves
Good to yielding (mild give)
Unknown
Yielding (slightly soft)
Unknown
Good to firm (drying out)
Unknown
🏅 Competition Level
Class 2 (high-level)
Unknown
🏟 Track Shape
Right-handed, long straights
Likes
Left-handed, long straights
Ok
📅 Recent Runs
The last 10 races, most recent first
22 Aug
11th
The Curragh
5f – 6½f · Good · 31 runners
16 Aug
3rd
The Curragh
5f – 6½f · Good · 12 runners
4 Jul
2nd
Naas
5f – 6½f · Good · 13 runners
20 Mar
4th
Dundalk
5f – 6½f · Standard · 10 runners
6 Mar
6th
Dundalk
5f – 6½f · Standard · 12 runners
13 Feb
3rd
Dundalk
5f – 6½f · Standard · 13 runners
8 Aug
8th
Tipperary
5f – 6½f · Good · 16 runners
29 Jun
DNF
The Curragh
5f – 6½f · Good · 28 runners
13 Jun
12th
Cork
5f – 6½f · Good_To_Yielding · 15 runners
7 Jun
6th
Navan
5f – 6½f · Good · 8 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 |
|---|
| The Curragh Galloping |
8 |
1 win, 1 third, 6 other |
22 Aug |
12.5% |
| Dundalk Galloping |
5 |
1 win, 2 thirds, 2 other |
20 Mar |
20% |
| Cork Galloping |
3 |
1 win, 2 other |
13 Jun |
33.3% |
| Navan Galloping |
2 |
1 third, 1 other |
7 Jun |
0% |
| Naas Galloping |
2 |
1 second, 1 other |
4 Jul |
0% |
| Fairyhouse Galloping |
1 |
1 other |
12 Jul |
0% |
| Tipperary Galloping |
1 |
1 other |
8 Aug |
0% |
| Down Royal Galloping |
1 |
1 other |
21 Jun |
0% |
| York Galloping |
1 |
1 other |
21 Aug |
0% |