First Ascent
First Ascent is a five-year-old with the kind of record that tells a story of steady improvement in the right conditions. Over twelve races, the horse has won once and picked up six places — a win rate of roughly 1 in every 12 races — but the most encouraging sign is what happened when moved up in distance. At longer trips of two miles or more, First Ascent wins about 1 in every 6 races, a dramatic jump that suggests the horse has finally found its groove.Based on TrackLab's analysis
📊 Key numbers
Career totals for this horse
🔍 Full analysis
Our model's view, based on this horse's career and recent runs
That breakthrough came at Kilbeggan just three weeks ago, a win that has energised recent form. Looking at the last six races, there's a pattern of inconsistency — places bookending runs out of the frame — but the horse is clearly active and in work. Trained by Gordon Elliott at Longwood in County Meath, First Ascent runs for a yard that has already sent out 210 winners this season alone, which means the horse is working alongside serious operators and has the infrastructure to capitalise on what it does well.
The key takeaway is distance. First Ascent plainly suits the longer game, and with a trainer capable of placing horses where they belong, there's real reason to think the win at Kilbeggan was not a one-off but the start of something. A five-year-old that finally understands how to carry its frame over two miles and beyond is worth watching closely.
⚡ Strengths and risks
What helps this horse and what to watch out for
✓ What works in their favour
✔ Well suited by Long Distance (2m+) distances: 17% win rate
⚠ What to watch out for
⚠ Poor record on good ground: 0 wins from 8 starts
🎯 Where this horse runs best
Results split by ground, distance, race level and track shape
🌧 Ground
Good to yielding (mild give)
Unknown
Yielding (slightly soft)
Unknown
Good (a little give)
Avoids
📏 Race distance
Long Distance (2M+)
Loves
🏟 Track shape
Right-handed, tight
Loves
Left-handed, tight turns
Unknown
Right-handed, tight turns
Avoids
Right-handed, long straights
Avoids
📅 Recent runs
The last 10 races, most recent first
24 Sep
12th
Listowel
Long Distance (2m+) · Good · 21 runners
3 Sep
🏆 Won
Kilbeggan
Long Distance (2m+) · Good_To_Yielding · 13 runners
21 Aug
3rd
Kilbeggan
Long Distance (2m+) · Good · 17 runners
8 Aug
2nd
Kilbeggan
Long Distance (2m+) · Good · 11 runners
21 Jul
4th
Ballinrobe
Long Distance (2m+) · Good · 13 runners
12 May
5th
Sligo
Long Distance (2m+) · Good · 16 runners
29 Sep
DNF
Roscommon
1m6f – 2m · Good_To_Yielding · 19 runners
2 Aug
14th
Galway
1m3f – 1m4f · Yielding · 21 runners
21 Jun
3rd
Down Royal
1m6f – 2m · Good · 7 runners
30 May
2nd
Down Royal
1m3f – 1m4f · Good · 11 runners
🏇 Jockeys
Every jockey who has ridden this horse, most rides first
🏟 Course record
Win rate at each course this horse has visited
| Course | Races | Results | Last run | Win rate |
|---|
| Kilbeggan Tight |
3 |
1 win, 1 second, 1 third |
3 Sep |
33.3% |
| Down Royal Galloping |
2 |
1 second, 1 third |
21 Jun |
0% |
| Roscommon Sharp |
2 |
1 third, 1 other |
29 Sep |
0% |
| Galway Tight |
1 |
1 other |
2 Aug |
0% |
| Sligo Sharp |
1 |
1 other |
12 May |
0% |
| Ballinrobe Sharp |
1 |
1 other |
21 Jul |
0% |
| Listowel Sharp |
1 |
1 other |
24 Sep |
0% |
| Cork Galloping |
1 |
1 other |
19 Apr |
0% |