Naoi

The real pattern to emerge is that Naoi runs best over middle distances, between seven furlongs and a mile. Over that distance range, it has won two of four races — a 50% win rate that stands out against its overall record of two wins from seven. Put simply, when the race is at the right length, this horse shows it can win. The first of those wins came at Leopardstown in August, so there is a genuine upward trajectory here across the space of just five weeks. Trainer W. McCreery, who trains Naoi from Rathbride in County Kildare, has had a productive season with 19 winners already, and this horse looks like it could contribute more to that tally as it settles into competitive racing.

The immediate form is encouraging. Beyond the recent Fairyhouse win, Naoi finished third in two of its previous four outings, suggesting consistency at the right level. The horse raced just yesterday and remains active, so whatever momentum it has built will matter in the races ahead. At 4 years old, it is established enough to have found where it belongs — and that appears to be in middle-distance races where it genuinely competes. If McCreery can keep it in the right contests at the right distance, Naoi has every chance of building on what has been a marked improvement over the past month.