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French Dynamite

At 11 years old, French Dynamite is the kind of horse that has quietly carved out a very decent career without ever grabbing the headlines. Five wins and 14 places from 28 races — winning roughly 1 in every 5.5 races — tells the story of a horse that is consistent, competitive, and hard to shake off on the right day. That career record isn't flashy, but it represents a horse that keeps showing up and keeps finishing near the front.Based on TrackLab's AI analysis
Quick Facts
Age
11 years old
Sex
Gelding
Colour
Bay
Father
Kentucky Dynamite
Mother
Matnie
Trainer
Owner
Shane Carmody
Rating
152

📊 Key Numbers

Career statistics for this horse
28
Career races
5
Wins
17.9%
Win rate
avg ~10%
50%
Place rate (top 3)
avg ~30%
117 days
Since last race

🔍 Full Analysis

TrackLab's AI-generated assessment based on career data and recent form
TrackLab's Detailed Breakdown
Auto-Generated

The most striking thing about French Dynamite is what happens when conditions turn wet. On soft or muddy ground, the horse has won 2 from 7 races — nearly 1 in 3 — which is a dramatically better record than its overall average. Some horses tolerate soft ground; this one seems to actively thrive in it. With winter racing and unpredictable weather, that preference becomes genuinely important information.

Punchestown is the other place to pay attention. Two wins from just four visits there is a remarkable record — that's winning half its races at the track. For context, most horses race at a venue a dozen times and never win there at all. French Dynamite clearly handles the track well, and its very first career win came there in November 2021, which is where the story really started.

The partnership with jockey Darragh O'Keeffe is worth noting — 3 wins from 19 rides together, or roughly 1 in every 6 races. That's a well-established combination, and most of French Dynamite's best moments have come with O'Keeffe in the saddle. Trainer E McNamara's yard in Rathkeale, Co. Limerick has been in fine form this season with 22 winners, so the team behind this horse is operating with confidence.

The one area where French Dynamite has yet to deliver is at the very top level — zero wins from five attempts in Class 1 company, the highest tier of racing in Britain and Ireland. That's not a disgrace; plenty of good horses never win at that level. But it does suggest the horse is best judged over a slightly longer season of solid performances rather than one defining moment. After a three-month break and with a last win as recently as October 2025, French Dynamite is one to watch when the ground softens up and the team chooses the right race. The pieces are there.

Strengths & Risks AI Analysis

What the data says works for and against this horse
✓ What works in their favour
Excellent record on yielding ground: 2 wins from 7 starts (29%)
Excellent record on good_to_yielding ground: 1 wins from 3 starts (33%)
⚠ What to watch out for
Poor record on soft ground: 0 wins from 5 starts
Returning from a 117-day absence
Struggles on LH Galloping tracks: 0 wins from 8 starts

🎯 Where This Horse Thrives

Performance broken down by ground, distance, class, and track type
🌧 Ground Conditions
Yielding
Loves
Good to yielding
Loves
Good (firm-ish)
Ok
Heavy (very wet)
Good to soft
Yielding to soft
Soft (muddy)
Avoids
📏 Race Distance
Long Distance (2M+)
🏅 Competition Level
Class 1
Avoids
Class 2
🏟 Track Shape
Right-handed, undulating
Loves
Right-handed, wide and galloping
Loves
Right-handed, tight turning
Right-handed, tight
Left-handed, wide and galloping
Avoids
Left-handed, tight turning
Avoids

📅 Recent Runs

The last 10 races, most recent first
2 Dec
2nd
Clonmel
Long Distance (2m+) · Heavy · 5 runners
19 Oct
🏆 Won
Limerick
Long Distance (2m+) · Yielding_To_Soft · 16 runners
24 Sep
3rd
Listowel
Long Distance (2m+) · Yielding · 21 runners
3 May
2nd
Punchestown
Long Distance (2m+) · Good_To_Yielding · 19 runners
4 Apr
19th
Aintree
Long Distance (2m+) · Good_To_Soft · 30 runners
12 Mar
10th
Cheltenham
Long Distance (2m+) · Good_To_Soft · 16 runners
22 Feb
5th
Fairyhouse
Long Distance (2m+) · Soft · 8 runners
19 Jan
5th
Thurles
Long Distance (2m+) · Good · 10 runners
2 Nov
6th
Wetherby
Long Distance (2m+) · Good · 7 runners
16 Oct
🏆 Won
Punchestown
Long Distance (2m+) · Good_To_Yielding · 9 runners

🏇 Jockey Partnerships

Every jockey who has ridden this horse, sorted by rides together
15.8%
Win rate
3/19
Won / Rode
0%
Win rate
0/3
Won / Rode
Patrick M O'Brien
50%
Win rate
1/2
Won / Rode
50%
Win rate
1/2
Won / Rode
0%
Win rate
0/1
Won / Rode
0%
Win rate
0/1
Won / Rode

🏟 Track Record

Win rate at each course this horse has visited
CourseRacesResultsLast visitedWin rate
Thurles
Undulating
6 2 wins, 1 second, 1 third, 2 other 19 Jan 33.3%
Punchestown
Galloping
4 2 wins, 1 second, 1 third 3 May 50%
Cheltenham
Galloping
3 1 second, 2 other 12 Mar 0%
Listowel
Sharp
2 1 third, 1 other 24 Sep 0%
Aintree
Galloping
2 2 other 4 Apr 0%
Leopardstown
Galloping
2 2 other 28 Dec 0%
Limerick
Galloping
1 1 win 19 Oct 100%
Killarney
Sharp
1 1 second 13 May 0%
Clonmel
Sharp
1 1 second 2 Dec 0%
Wetherby
Galloping
1 1 other 2 Nov 0%
Cork
Galloping
1 1 other 31 Oct 0%
Wexford
Sharp
1 1 other 13 Jul 0%
Galway
Tight
1 1 other 31 Jul 0%
Gowran Park
Undulating
1 1 second 5 Oct 0%
Fairyhouse
Galloping
1 1 other 22 Feb 0%