Burning Ability

The record of one win and four places from six races — winning roughly 1 in every 6 outings — understates how often this horse has been in the thick of things. Recent form reading 1-6-2-3-2-5 tells an interesting story: consistently knocking on the door, a dip in form, and then a winner. That is the kind of sequence that suggests a horse finding its feet rather than flattening out, and the yard will be hoping the Listowel win has unlocked something.

Eoin Christopher McCarthy, based at Athea in County Limerick, trains the horse, and his yard has been in good shape this season — 15 winners already is a solid return that suggests a team operating with confidence. Listowel is also practically on their doorstep, which rarely hurts. There is a real advantage when a horse travels somewhere familiar to its yard, and McCarthy will know that track well.

At five years old, Burning Ability is still relatively young and has plenty of racing ahead. The Listowel win is the foundation — now the question is whether this is a horse who can build on it or one whose best day has already been framed on the wall. Given the placed efforts suggest a horse who runs honestly and competes with purpose, there is every reason to think the story is still being written.