Fakir d'Oudairies

Those two wins came at Ascot and Aintree within about seven weeks of each other, both in top-level company, and they represent the peak of what has been a genuinely impressive career. The Aintree victory was particularly striking — his jockey Mark Walsh described a moment of anxiety when a rival loomed up on his outside at the last, but a well-timed jump sealed it. Trained by E Bolger out of Bruree in County Limerick — a yard that has sent out 14 winners this season — Fakir d'Oudairies has been one of their flagship horses. Bolger has spoken warmly about him, calling him a star of the yard, and the affection feels earned.

The partnership with Mark Walsh has been the most productive of his career. Together they've won 3 of their 10 races — 30%, or roughly 1 in 3 — which is a strong record and reflects a real understanding between horse and rider. Walsh himself called Fakir d'Oudairies a special horse after Aintree, and given the company he operates in, that isn't an idle compliment.

The honest part of the story, though, is that it has been a long time since he last won. His most recent victory came at Thurles in January 2023, now 41 months ago, and his last six results — including a 14th and a 9th — suggest a horse operating below his best. He is now 11 years old, which is veteran territory in this sport. He raced as recently as yesterday, so he is still very much active, and his recent form shows a second-place finish in that six-race stretch, which means he hasn't completely fallen away. But the gap between where he once was — winning top-level races at Aintree and Ascot — and where he is now is real, and worth noting. He remains a horse with a proper record, even if the best of it may be behind him.