Eyetrap

The horse performs noticeably better over the longer distances. At races between 1 mile 6 furlongs and 2 miles — real tests of stamina — he has won 1 of 4 races (a 25% win rate), nearly three times better than his overall record. That win came at Chester on 15 June 2024, his last victory, which was 28 months ago. He also showed early promise with a first win at Nottingham in April 2023. Eyetrap is trained by Aidan Melia at Monasterevin in County Kildare, and has done most of his racing at Class 4 level, where he won 1 of 5 races (20%). The yard itself has been modest this season, sending out just 2 winners.

The recent form tells a story of struggle. In his last six races — most recent first — Eyetrap finished unplaced, then sixth, then 13th, then sixth again, fourth, and 15th. Not one of those performances was a place, and the unplaced efforts suggest he is not getting competitive. He raced just a day ago, so he is still active and in work, but without a win in nearly two and a half years, Eyetrap looks like a horse that may have had his best days behind him. Whether he can rediscover the form that earned him those two wins remains to be seen, but right now he is going through the motions.