Half Nutz

That last victory came at The Curragh back in September 2022 — nearly four years ago now. The Curragh is one of Ireland's most prestigious venues, so winning there is genuinely something to hang your hat on, but 43 months without a follow-up puts that achievement firmly in the past tense. The first win arrived at Naas in October 2021, meaning the entire winning chapter of this horse's career spans less than a year, sandwiched between long stretches of placing and also-ran finishes.

Recent form makes for grim reading: seventh, seventh, eleventh, sixth, fourth, tenth across the last six races, with nothing to suggest a big run is brewing. The one flicker in there is a fourth-place finish, which at least hints at a horse still trying rather than one that has completely downed tools. Jockey Adam Caffrey has been the regular partner, riding Half Nutz 19 times without once steering it to a win — a frustrating sequence for everyone involved, though the horse's overall record suggests the issue is not specific to the partnership.

Trainer James M Barcoe operates out of Gowran in Co. Kilkenny and has sent out seven winners this season, so the yard is clearly capable of getting horses to perform. Half Nutz, though, seems to exist in a category of its own — a horse that keeps showing up, raced just yesterday and still active, building a career total of 55 races with the quiet dedication of a club runner who turns out every Saturday regardless of the result. At this stage, the profile is less about chasing another win and more about appreciating a horse that simply loves to race.