Magico

The most striking thing about Magico is what happens when the rain arrives. On wet, slow ground, this horse has won 2 of just 3 races — a success rate of 67% that would make any trainer dream of a grey forecast. Most horses tolerate conditions; Magico actively thrives on them. That tells you something about the way this horse moves and where its real talent sits. The preference for a trip of around a mile and a furlong to a mile and two also points to a horse that wants to get into a proper rhythm and grind — exactly what wet ground encourages.

Kempton Park is where the numbers really jump out. Two wins from three visits there is a remarkable record for any horse, suggesting the flat, all-weather track suits the way Magico travels and finishes. Some horses simply click with a particular venue, and punters who have followed Magico at Kempton have been well rewarded.

The career began with a first win at Pontefract in September 2023, and the most recent came at Killarney just four weeks ago — so this is a horse in active, current form, having raced only yesterday. The recent run of form reads two wins and a place from the last six, which is encouraging momentum. Rossa Ryan has been the regular jockey, winning once from five rides together at a 20% clip — nothing spectacular, but a consistent partnership.

Magico is trained by W P Mullins, the renowned Irish handler based in County Carlow, whose yard has sent out an extraordinary 215 winners already this season alone. Having a horse of this profile in that operation matters — it means Magico is professionally placed and well looked after. The one puzzle in the record is that against Class 3 competition — a solid mid-level tier — Magico has managed 0 wins from 7 races. Step down slightly and the horse wins; step up and it's a different test. Finding that sweet spot is the key to getting the best from what is clearly a talented, conditions-dependent horse with plenty still to offer.