Murat

The career arc is worth following. Murat got off the mark at Killarney in August 2024, and since then has barely looked back. The most recent form figures — 4, 1, 2, 1, 1, reading from most recent backwards — tell a clear story: one mid-pack run sandwiched between a string of victories and podium finishes. The low point is a fourth place. That is the worst this horse has done in its entire career.

The standout moment so far came at Leopardstown on St Stephen's Day 2025 — the 26th of December. Leopardstown on Boxing Day is one of the most celebrated fixtures in Irish racing, the kind of afternoon that draws big crowds and bigger ambitions. Winning there, on that day, puts Murat in company that matters. It is the most recent of three career wins, and it came roughly three months ago, meaning the horse has had a short breather since — 52 days off at the time of writing — before what will presumably be a summer campaign.

Peter Lawlor trains Murat, and his yard has been in decent nick this season, sending out 6 winners. It is a small but productive team, the kind of operation that tends to be selective and patient rather than throwing horses at every available race. That Murat has raced just 5 times at the age of seven suggests exactly that approach — careful placement, not rushing the horse, picking spots where it can win. So far, it has worked handsomely. A 60% win rate — three wins from five races — is the sort of figure that most trainers could only dream of across a whole career. The next race will tell us whether Murat can carry that form into the warmer months.