Croke Park

Trained by Gordon Elliott at his yard in Longwood, Co Meath, Croke Park is part of one of the most powerful operations in Ireland. Elliott's team has sent out 209 winners this season alone — that is not a yard that wastes time on horses without real ability. When a trainer of that calibre keeps an 8-year-old in active training, it tells you the horse is still earning its place.

The most recent win came at Leopardstown on St Stephen's Day — 26 December 2024 — which is one of the most prestigious days in the Irish racing calendar. Winning there is not a fluke; it is a statement. That said, Croke Park has not won in its last six races, and those recent results — a thirteenth, followed by three thirds, a seventh, and a second — suggest a horse that is competing at a level where victories are hard to come by. The three consecutive third-place finishes in particular hint at a horse that is still running well without quite getting its nose in front.

When Sam Ewing is in the saddle, the picture brightens considerably. Together they have won 2 of their 5 races — that is 40%, or roughly 2 in every 5 times they team up — which is an exceptional partnership record by any measure. Whether Ewing's style suits Croke Park, or whether they simply tend to get matched up in races that suit the horse, that number stands out.

Now 56 days since its last run, Croke Park comes back off a short freshener. At 8 years old, with five wins already banked and a clear taste for a big occasion, this is a horse that still has something left to prove. The last win came on one of Ireland's biggest racing days. The question is whether there is another one of those moments still to come.