Catch The Beast

That single win came at Punchestown on New Year's Eve 2023 — now more than two years ago — and it remains the high point of a career that has not managed to build on it. Since then, Catch The Beast has gone six races without a win, though recent form does show a second-place finish, suggesting the ability is still there even if victories are proving elusive. At eight years old, the window for adding to that tally is not getting wider.

Phillip Enright has been the most regular partner in the saddle, riding the horse in 6 of its 16 races and producing that one win together. That gives them a win rate of around 1 in every 6 races as a partnership, which is actually reasonable — the problem is finding a race where the stars align again. Edward Cawley's yard has sent out just one winner this season, so this is a small, quietly operating operation rather than a powerhouse stable, and every winner they get matters. Catch The Beast is currently active, having raced just 21 days ago, so there is clearly still a plan in place and optimism that the horse has more to give.

Whether it does is the open question. A horse with one win from 16 races is not going to frighten the best in the business, but sport is full of animals that find their moment in unexpected places. Punchestown was kind to Catch The Beast once before. Perhaps it will be again.