Koukeo

The horse found his feet relatively late, not winning until April 2025 at Exeter, and his best work has come in Class 4 company, where he has won twice from eight races — a 25% win rate that shows he is genuinely competitive when conditions align. His partnership with jockey Jonjo O'Neill Jr has been the bright spot: they have combined for three wins from ten races together, a 30% win rate that sits well above his overall numbers and suggests the pair have found a rhythm. That connection matters.

What is most telling, though, is the nine-month gap since his last win at Haydock Park in January 2026. He has raced six times since then without winning, though he did finish third at his most recent outing just a day ago. The trainer's notes from that Haydock victory hint at what Koukeo needs: better ground and a race where the pace suits his staying power. He is described as tough, a horse that sees out a race well when things go his way. The yard — Jonjo & A.J. O'Neill at Cheltenham, a strong operation that has sent out 51 winners this season — clearly believes there is more to come, having moved him into hurdles racing to build his experience. Whether he returns to the winner's circle depends on finding those perfect conditions again.