The recent form gives a mixed picture. A second-place finish sits in there among the last six runs, which shows Love Like This can still put in a decent effort, but results of 10th twice suggest inconsistency is part of the story too. Raced just yesterday, this is very much an active campaign rather than a horse winding down.
John Aherne has been the regular jockey, partnering Love Like This in 10 of those 44 races without ever getting the win. That is a long association without a breakthrough moment, and at some point the question becomes whether the right opportunity has simply never come along, or whether a win is genuinely beyond this horse. Trainer John Patrick Ryan, based at Templemore in County Tipperary, is clearly a man who can get horses to win — 21 winners on the board this season alone — so the tools are there. Love Like This just has not been the one to deliver.
For a general racing fan, a horse like this is a curious thing. It is not a lost cause that never troubles the judges — 12 places proves otherwise. It is just a horse that has, so far, made a career out of nearly.
| Course | Races | Results | Last visited | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clonmel Sharp |
9 | 1 third, 8 other | 26 Mar | 0% |
| Sligo Sharp |
6 | 4 seconds, 2 other | 12 May | 0% |
| Limerick Galloping |
6 | 6 other | 28 May | 0% |
| Thurles Undulating |
5 | 2 seconds, 3 other | 29 Jan | 0% |
| Ballinrobe Sharp |
3 | 1 second, 2 other | 11 Apr | 0% |
| Naas Galloping |
3 | 1 third, 2 other | 4 Mar | 0% |
| Downpatrick Undulating |
2 | 2 other | 20 Sep | 0% |
| Down Royal Galloping |
2 | 2 other | 4 May | 0% |
| Kilbeggan Tight |
2 | 2 other | 16 Jun | 0% |
| Gowran Park Undulating |
2 | 1 third, 1 other | 8 Nov | 0% |
| Navan Galloping |
1 | 1 other | 22 Mar | 0% |
| Killarney Sharp |
1 | 1 third | 6 Oct | 0% |
| Tramore Sharp |
1 | 1 other | 10 Oct | 0% |
| Listowel Sharp |
1 | 1 other | 31 May | 0% |