Gata Ban

The bulk of that career has been spent at Class 5 level, the bread-and-butter tier of British racing, and it is here that the horse has found its best form — winning 2 of 9 races at that grade, a rate of roughly 1 in 4. That is a meaningful number. It suggests Gata Ban is competitive at this level rather than simply making up the numbers. The first win came at Taunton on 21 December 2022, and the most recent at Hereford on 12 February 2025 — so there is a horse here that can still get the job done, even if those moments are spread out.

The partnership with jockey Richie McLernon is the most eye-catching detail in the whole record. Together they have won 2 of their 6 races — that is 1 in every 3, a win rate that stands well above the horse's overall average. When McLernon is in the saddle, something clearly clicks. Whether that is down to the jockey's style, his feel for the horse, or simply good timing, the numbers make a compelling case for keeping the pair together.

Gata Ban is trained by Neil Mulholland at his yard in Limpley Stoke, Wiltshire — a team that has sent out 61 winners already this season, which shows there is plenty of know-how behind this horse. The challenge right now is that Gata Ban has gone six races without a win, with the most recent run finishing third just 20 days ago. That third place suggests the spark is not gone. For a nine-year-old at this level, the question is less whether the horse can win again and more about finding the right day and the right conditions to make it happen.