The recent form reads 7-4-9-12 going back in time, which tells its own story. That fourth place is the one flicker of promise, but the run either side of it — ninth and then twelfth — suggest it hasn't built on it. Twelve runners finished ahead of it on its most recent outing, and the horse has now been off the track for around six months. Whether that break has been about finding answers or simply waiting for the right opportunity, only the trainer knows.
That trainer is Noel C Kelly, based in Draperstown, County Derry, and it's worth noting that Kelly's yard has sent out 14 winners already this season — so this is not an outfit that lacks for ability or know-how. When a competent, winning trainer keeps running a horse that hasn't troubled the judge once in four attempts, it usually means they see something in it that the racecourse hasn't yet rewarded. Or they're patient people. Possibly both.
The name, at this point, feels less like a joke and more like a prayer.
| Course | Races | Results | Last run | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Navan Galloping |
2 | 2 other | 20 Sep | 0% |
| Punchestown Galloping |
1 | 1 other | 2 May | 0% |
| Leopardstown Galloping |
1 | 1 other | 27 Dec | 0% |