The horse does have genuine strengths, if you know where to look. On normal ground conditions, Free Solo wins at a rate of almost 1 in 5 races (2 wins from 11), a significant uptick on his overall average. He is also a specialist at Lingfield Park, where he has won twice from just four races—a win rate that stands out sharply against the rest of his record and hints at a horse that thrives on that particular track. His trainer, P J F Murphy, is based at Castlecomer in Co Kilkenny and runs a modest but active yard, with four winners sent out this season.
Saffie Osborne has been Free Solo's regular pilot, riding him ten times and winning once together. It is worth noting that when Murphy spoke optimistically about the horse years ago, he identified him as a work in progress with genuine ability—one capable of winning at a decent level and best suited to seven furlongs. Whether through changing circumstances or simply the toll of racing, that potential has never fully crystallized. Free Solo remains active and was raced just a day ago, but the days of stringing together wins appear to have passed him by.
| Course | Races | Results | Last run | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dundalk Galloping |
16 | 1 win, 3 seconds, 1 third, 11 other | 18 Sep | 6.2% |
| The Curragh Galloping |
7 | 1 win, 1 third, 5 other | 15 Oct | 14.3% |
| Leopardstown Galloping |
6 | 2 seconds, 4 other | 20 Aug | 0% |
| Lingfield Park Sharp |
4 | 2 wins, 2 seconds | 11 Jan | 50% |
| Roscommon Sharp |
4 | 1 win, 3 other | 18 May | 25% |
| Kempton Park Galloping |
3 | 3 other | 28 Nov | 0% |
| chelmsford | 3 | 1 third, 2 other | 3 Nov | 0% |
| Bellewstown Sharp |
2 | 2 other | 3 Jul | 0% |
| Galway Tight |
2 | 1 second, 1 other | 30 Jul | 0% |
| Wolverhampton Galloping |
2 | 1 second, 1 other | 27 Jan | 0% |
| Limerick Galloping |
2 | 2 other | 25 Apr | 0% |
| Listowel Sharp |
2 | 2 other | 24 Sep | 0% |
| Newmarket Galloping |
1 | 1 other | 14 May | 0% |
| Thurles Undulating |
1 | 1 other | 8 Oct | 0% |
| Windsor Sharp |
1 | 1 other | 2 May | 0% |
| Southwell Galloping |
1 | 1 third | 4 Oct | 0% |
| Down Royal Galloping |
1 | 1 other | 20 Jun | 0% |
| Goodwood Undulating |
1 | 1 other | 10 Jun | 0% |
| Laytown Galloping |
1 | 1 other | 16 Sep | 0% |
| Killarney Sharp |
1 | 1 other | 18 Jul | 0% |