Clonbury Bridge

Two of those four career wins have come at Fairyhouse, from just six attempts there. That means Clonbury Bridge wins 1 in every 3 races at that particular track — a completely different horse to the one who turns up elsewhere and quietly fills the minor placings. Why certain horses click with certain courses is one of racing's more enjoyable mysteries: the shape of the bends, the ground, some intangible rhythm of the place. Whatever the reason, Fairyhouse clearly suits, and the most recent win there came as recently as October 2025, just eight months ago, confirming this is no fading love affair.

Speaking of ground, wet or muddy conditions sharpen Clonbury Bridge up considerably. On soft going the record reads 2 wins from 8 races — a 25% win rate, or 1 in every 4 races. On faster ground that number drops away sharply. When the Irish weather delivers, this horse is worth a second look. Trainer J P Dempsey, based at Carbury in County Kildare, has had a productive season with 16 winners sent out from the yard, and it is his son L P Dempsey who most often takes the ride — 14 times together, with 1 win between them. That partnership has not exactly caught fire yet, but the family dynamic adds a neat layer to the story.

Clonbury Bridge raced just one day ago and remains very much an active participant in the game. At ten years old, with 42 races behind them and a recent winner's enclosure visit still fresh, this is a horse who has found a way to keep contributing long after younger rivals have moved on. Not a star, not a big earner — but a useful, knowledgeable old competitor who knows exactly where home is.