Cher Tara

That one career win came at Down Royal on 17 March 2025, and it remains the high point of what has been a largely frustrating career. The trouble is, it was 15 months ago, and the six races since have produced a third, another third, a sixth, an eighth, a fifth, and a seventh. There is a pattern there — Cher Tara tends to be involved without quite being able to finish the job. Two thirds in recent form suggest the ability is still ticking over, but converting that into a win has proved elusive.

The horse is trained by Daragh Bourke, based at Waterbeck in Dumfries and Galloway, a yard that has sent out 10 winners already this season — so this is not a struggling operation. When Danny Gilligan is in the saddle, the record improves noticeably: together they have won 1 from 5 races, which works out at 20%, or roughly 1 in every 5 — a sharp contrast to the overall career picture, and worth noting if Gilligan takes the ride again.

The one area that gives genuine pause is Cher Tara's record at Class 5 level, which represents the lower end of the racing ladder — the sort of races where winning should be most achievable. Seven races at that level, zero wins. That is the kind of stat that is hard to ignore. It does not mean a win cannot come, but it does suggest that when the pressure is off and the field is there to be beaten, something has consistently not quite clicked.

Racing just one day ago, Cher Tara is clearly fit and active. The question now is whether a second win ever arrives — and whether Down Royal, the scene of that sole career success, might hold the key.