The recent form tells a similar story. In the last six completed races, the best result was a fourth, which came a few runs back, and the most recent outing — just yesterday — brought a fourth-place finish again. There are no zeros, no pulled-ups, no disasters, which at least suggests a horse that turns up and competes. It just doesn't win.
Jack G Gilligan has been the regular partner, riding Mr McWhinny in eight of those eighteen races without a win to show for it. That is not necessarily a criticism of either horse or jockey — sometimes a partnership simply reflects the limits of the horse rather than the quality of the rider. Trainer T Ellis, based in Rugby, Warwickshire, is clearly capable of finding winners — the yard has sent out thirty this season — so the tools are there. Mr McWhinny just hasn't been one of them yet.
At eight years old, the window for a first career win is narrowing. Some horses do break their duck late, and the consistency in the form figures at least suggests this isn't a horse that falls apart under pressure. But eighteen races is a long time to wait, and the clock is ticking.
| Course | Races | Results | Last visited | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Punchestown Galloping |
3 | 3 other | 7 Jun | 0% |
| Cartmel Tight |
2 | 2 other | 21 Jul | 0% |
| Ballinrobe Sharp |
2 | 2 other | 11 Apr | 0% |
| Kilbeggan Tight |
2 | 2 other | 16 Jun | 0% |
| Tipperary Galloping |
2 | 2 other | 1 Jul | 0% |
| Fairyhouse Galloping |
1 | 1 second | 5 Nov | 0% |
| Uttoxeter Sharp |
1 | 1 other | 13 Jun | 0% |
| Cork Galloping |
1 | 1 other | 13 Dec | 0% |
| Galway Tight |
1 | 1 other | 1 Aug | 0% |
| Limerick Galloping |
1 | 1 other | 19 Nov | 0% |
| Sligo Sharp |
1 | 1 other | 13 May | 0% |
| Roscommon Sharp |
1 | 1 other | 30 Sep | 0% |