Dragon Of Malta

This horse is a creature of habit, and that habit is Listowel. Of his six career wins, five have come at that single track. He has managed it five times from just ten races there, an extraordinary win rate that marks him out as a genuine course specialist. His most recent victory came just this week, on 22 September, which suggests he remains as effective on his favoured ground as ever. The pattern is clear: send Dragon Of Malta to Listowel and something good tends to happen.

Ground conditions matter enormously to him. He thrives when the track is wet and muddy, winning three of nine races (33%) on those surfaces — well above his career average. Soft ground is nearly as good, with two wins from seven races (29%). Put him on fast, dry ground and his chances drop sharply. This is a horse built for Irish winter racing, not for firm summer going.

Trained by P F O'Donnell's yard at Kilmallock in County Limerick, Dragon Of Malta remains actively campaigned at an age when many horses have long since retired. His recent form has been mixed — two wins from his last six races, with some high finishes cushioned by a couple of disappointing runs. His most regular jockey has been Colin Keane, though their record together of one win from five rides suggests the partnership hasn't quite clicked. What matters is that this horse is still racing, still winning, and still doing what he does best when conditions and ground align with his preferences.