Ishan

Wet and muddy ground is the other key. On soft, heavy conditions Ishan has won 2 of 8 races — a 25% win rate, or 1 in every 4. That is more than double its overall record, and it matters. When the Irish winter turns grim and the ground gets waterlogged, this horse moves up a gear while others struggle. The first career win came at Punchestown in January 2023, and the most recent at Limerick in December of the same year — a day that almost certainly felt like Ishan's finest hour.

Jockey Phillip Enright knows this horse better than anyone. The pair have teamed up 22 times, producing all 3 of those career wins — a win rate of 14% together, or roughly 1 in every 7 rides. That kind of consistency between horse and rider is not accidental; it suggests a real understanding of how Ishan needs to be ridden.

The honest part of the picture, though, is that the last win came 31 months ago and the most recent six races have produced nothing better than a third place. Still active and racing — it ran just yesterday — Ishan is clearly still competitive enough to keep showing up, and 8 places from 29 races means it has been involved far more often than it has won. But for anyone hoping to see it back in the winner's enclosure, the recipe seems clear: a cold December day, Limerick racecourse, and ground that is properly wet underfoot. Take those three ingredients away and you may be waiting a while.