Counting Coup

Maurice Andrew Ahern, the trainer at Mallow in Co Cork, has built a steady yard this season with 5 winners to his name, but Counting Coup appears to be among his most reliable performers. Looking at the horse's most recent four races — a win, fourth place, win again, and then a sixth — there is clear evidence of consistency mixed with occasional below-par efforts. The fourth-place finish suggests the horse doesn't always fire, and the sixth-place run shows it can have an off day. Yet when conditions or the race suits, Counting Coup delivers. The fact that it won two of the last four races, and raced just a day ago, confirms this is a horse still being actively campaigned and clearly thriving under Ahern's care. For a 6-year-old that only broke its duck at Down Royal in June, the rapid progression to winning again within six weeks is a genuine bright spot — and one worth keeping an eye on as the season continues.