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Giselles Defence

There is a horse currently competing in Britain that has found a very specific home away from home — and that home is Epsom Downs, the most famous and technically demanding track in the country. Giselles Defence, a six-year-old trained by Sean Davis out of Maynooth in County Kildare, has won 2 of just 3 races at Epsom. That is not a fluke. Most horses take years to figure out Epsom's famous camber and steep downhill bend; some never do. Giselles Defence arrives there and almost always performs.Based on TrackLab's AI analysis
Quick Facts
Age
6 years old
Sex
Gelding
Colour
Bay
Father
National Defense
Mother
Cotton Camera
Trainer
Owner
Ms Sinead Oscanaill
Rating
56

📊 Key Numbers

Career statistics for this horse
47
Career races
4
Wins
8.5%
Win rate
avg ~10%
38.3%
Place rate (top 3)
avg ~30%
1 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 broader career record tells a more modest story. Across 47 races, this horse has won 4 times and placed in 18 others — a win rate of roughly 1 in every 12 outings, or about 9%. That is not a glamorous number, but it is honest work. The sweet spot is a distance of around a mile and three to four furlongs: at that trip, the record improves sharply to 4 wins from 25 races, winning roughly 1 in every 6. And at Class 5 level — the grade where this horse most regularly competes — it has won 4 of 13 races, or nearly 1 in 3. That is a genuinely strong conversion rate at that level.

The current run of form is less encouraging. Giselles Defence has not won in the last six races, and the most recent results show a mix of mid-field finishes and one blank run. That said, the horse raced just one day ago and remains very much in active training. Regular partner Gary Carroll has yet to find the winner's enclosure together across 8 attempts, which is a pairing that has not yet clicked — though with Sean Davis's yard sending out just 2 winners so far this season, the whole operation is in a quieter patch right now.

The last win came at Epsom Downs on 17 July 2025 — technically 12 months ago but, given the course record there, a return to that track is always worth watching. Two wins from three races at one venue, for a horse that wins less than 1 in 10 overall, is the kind of stat that makes a knowledgeable observer sit up a little straighter. Epsom is where Giselles Defence becomes something more than a capable mid-tier performer. It becomes a genuine threat.

Strengths & Risks

What the data says works for and against this horse
✓ What works in their favour
Excellent record on good_to_firm ground: 1 wins from 7 starts (14%)
Excellent record on soft ground: 1 wins from 5 starts (20%)
Well suited by 1m3f – 1m4f distances: 16% win rate
⚠ What to watch out for
Poor record on standard ground: 0 wins from 10 starts
Poor record on soft_to_heavy ground: 0 wins from 3 starts
Yet to win at Dundalk in 8 attempts
Struggles on RH Galloping tracks: 0 wins from 9 starts
Struggles on RH Sharp tracks: 0 wins from 9 starts

🎯 Where This Horse Thrives

Performance broken down by ground, distance, class, and track type
🌧 Ground Conditions
Good to firm (drying out)
Loves
Soft (muddy)
Loves
Good (firm-ish)
Ok
Good to yielding (mild give)
Unknown
Yielding to soft (damp)
Unknown
Good to soft (some give)
Unknown
Heavy (very wet)
Unknown
Yielding (slightly soft)
Unknown
Standard (all-weather)
Avoids
Soft to heavy (wet)
Avoids
📏 Race Distance
1M3F – 1M4F
Loves
7F – 1M
Avoids
1M1F – 1M2F
Avoids
1M6F – 2M
Avoids
Long Distance (2M+)
Avoids
🏅 Competition Level
Class 4 (standard)
Avoids
Class 5 (entry-level)
Loves
🏟 Track Shape
Left-handed, hilly
Loves
Left-handed, long straights
Ok
Right-handed, hilly
Unknown
Right-handed, tight
Unknown
Right-handed, long straights
Avoids
Right-handed, tight turns
Avoids
Left-handed, tight
Avoids
Left-handed, tight turns
Avoids

📅 Recent Runs

The last 10 races, most recent first
20 Jul
5th
Ballinrobe
1m6f – 2m · Good_To_Yielding · 11 runners
12 Jun
DNF
Fairyhouse
1m6f – 2m · Good · 21 runners
3 May
DNF
Sligo
1m3f – 1m4f · Yielding_To_Soft · 14 runners
11 Apr
DNF
Bellewstown
7f – 1m · Soft · 14 runners
28 Mar
23th
The Curragh
7f – 1m · Soft_To_Heavy · 23 runners
16 Jan
11th
Dundalk
1m1f – 1m2f · Standard · 12 runners
9 Jan
14th
Dundalk
7f – 1m · Standard · 14 runners
3 Dec
12th
Dundalk
1m3f – 1m4f · Standard · 12 runners
16 Aug
7th
Doncaster
1m3f – 1m4f · Good_To_Firm · 9 runners
8 Aug
4th
Newmarket
1m3f – 1m4f · Good_To_Firm · 11 runners

🏇 Jockey Partnerships

Every jockey who has ridden this horse, sorted by rides together
0%
Win rate
0/8
Won / Rode
40%
Win rate
2/5
Won / Rode
Ryan Kavanagh
0%
Win rate
0/3
Won / Rode
0%
Win rate
0/3
Won / Rode
0%
Win rate
0/2
Won / Rode
0%
Win rate
0/2
Won / Rode
0%
Win rate
0/2
Won / Rode
0%
Win rate
0/2
Won / Rode
0%
Win rate
0/2
Won / Rode
100%
Win rate
1/1
Won / Rode
0%
Win rate
0/1
Won / Rode
0%
Win rate
0/1
Won / Rode
0%
Win rate
0/1
Won / Rode
0%
Win rate
0/1
Won / Rode
Paddy Harnett(5)
0%
Win rate
0/1
Won / Rode
0%
Win rate
0/1
Won / Rode
Alice Stevens
0%
Win rate
0/1
Won / Rode
0%
Win rate
0/1
Won / Rode
0%
Win rate
0/1
Won / Rode
Mr A Harvey
0%
Win rate
0/1
Won / Rode

🏟 Track Record

Win rate at each course this horse has visited
CourseRacesResultsLast visitedWin rate
Dundalk
Galloping
8 3 thirds, 5 other 16 Jan 0%
Chester
Tight
4 1 second, 1 third, 2 other 26 Jul 0%
The Curragh
Galloping
4 4 other 28 Mar 0%
Epsom Downs
Undulating
3 2 wins, 1 other 17 Jul 66.7%
Newbury
Galloping
2 1 win, 1 second 10 Jul 50%
Sligo
Sharp
2 2 other 3 May 0%
Leicester
Sharp
2 1 second, 1 third 3 Jun 0%
Fairyhouse
Galloping
2 2 other 12 Jun 0%
Ballinrobe
Sharp
2 2 other 20 Jul 0%
Pontefract
Undulating
1 1 win 1 May 100%
Market Rasen
Sharp
1 1 other 15 Oct 0%
Catterick Bridge
Sharp
1 1 other 29 Oct 0%
Hamilton Park
Sharp
1 1 other 2 Jun 0%
Cork
Galloping
1 1 other 6 Jan 0%
Leopardstown
Galloping
1 1 other 27 Dec 0%
Down Royal
Galloping
1 1 second 8 Sep 0%
Ludlow
Undulating
1 1 other 9 Oct 0%
Lingfield Park
Sharp
1 1 other 3 Dec 0%
Galway
Tight
1 1 other 6 Aug 0%
Windsor
Sharp
1 1 other 15 Aug 0%
Newmarket
Galloping
1 1 other 8 Aug 0%
Bellewstown
Sharp
1 1 other 11 Apr 0%
Beverley
Undulating
1 1 second 6 Jul 0%
Doncaster
Galloping
1 1 other 16 Aug 0%
Wolverhampton
Galloping
1 1 other 16 Nov 0%
Haydock Park
Galloping
1 1 other 26 Apr 0%
Nottingham
Galloping
1 1 second 20 Apr 0%