Malbay Madness

The real story is what happens when Malbay Madness gets the right conditions. At distances between 1 mile 6 furlongs and 2 miles, it has won 2 of 3 races — a 67% win rate over that range — which tells you this is a horse that thrives when asked to stay. Even more telling is its stranglehold on Kilbeggan, where it has won 3 of 4 races. That is course mastery of the highest order; some horses just suit a place, and Kilbeggan clearly brings out the best in this one. Since its first win at Killarney in August 2022, Malbay Madness has been a fixture in the winner's enclosure, and trainer Dermot McLoughlin's Bodeen yard in Co Meath knows how to keep it firing. The horse's last win came at Downpatrick seven weeks ago, so it is not a recent star, but the form from its last six runs shows it has not gone away. When jockey P J O'Hanlon is in the saddle — they have partnered to 3 wins from 10 races together — there is a marked improvement, suggesting they work well as a team. For a horse that has earned itself a career through steady, reliable racing, Malbay Madness remains one to watch whenever it returns to Kilbeggan or lines up at the longer distances where it feels most at home.