Faoladh

Trained by Andrew Slattery out of Thurles in County Tipperary, Faoladh is part of a yard that has been firing on all cylinders this season, sending out 62 winners. That kind of volume matters — it suggests a well-run operation with horses in good form, and Faoladh has contributed to that tally. Slattery also does the riding himself, which is an unusual combination of trainer and jockey, and the pair have built up a decent understanding over 8 races together, winning 1 in every 8 of those outings.

The horse opened its account at Leopardstown in June 2025 and then added a second win at Down Royal just seven weeks ago. That most recent success is worth noting — Down Royal is a sharp, tight track in County Down, and winning there requires a horse to be switched on and travelling well. The fact that Faoladh managed it, and did so only weeks ago, tells you this is a horse in reasonable nick right now. Normal ground conditions are clearly where it thrives, winning 2 of its 10 races on a standard surface — that 20% win rate compares very favourably to its overall record. Similarly, at distances between seven furlongs and a mile, it has won 1 in every 5 races, which again outperforms its career average noticeably.

The recent form is a bit of a mixed picture — a win and a third in the last six runs, sandwiched between some less impressive finishes — but a horse that raced yesterday is a horse whose team clearly believes there is more to come. With a surface it likes and a distance that suits, Faoladh is the kind of horse that can catch you out on the right day.