Moulane West

That Sligo win is worth dwelling on. Mark Michael McNiff, who trains out of Strandhill in County Sligo — practically on the doorstep of the track — sent Moulane West out to win on home turf, and the horse delivered. McNiff's yard has sent out five winners this season, so it is a small but functioning operation, and a local winner at Sligo would have meant something to them. The problem is that Moulane West has not been able to repeat the trick in the six races since, finishing no better than fourth in that sequence, with recent results of 9th, 10th, and 15th suggesting the form has drifted further away rather than built on that breakthrough.

Phillip Enright has been in the saddle seven times without getting a win from the horse, which is a frustrating record for both of them, though in fairness the horse has only won once in its entire career. With nine places across 36 races, Moulane West has at least shown it can finish in the frame — it is not simply making up the numbers every time. But the gap between placing and winning has been a wide one, and at ten years old, opportunities to close it are becoming fewer.

What keeps things interesting is that McNiff keeps running it, and running it regularly. A horse still active at this age, with one career win to its name, is not being campaigned for prize money or prestige — it is simply doing what it does, showing up, and occasionally reminding everyone that Sligo in May 2025 was a very good day indeed.