Navagio

The record book shows a horse who has found its level at the top end of the sport. Navagio has been tried six times in Class 1 and 2 races — the very best that Britain and Ireland have to offer — and has yet to win at that level. That is not a disgrace; it means the yard believes in the horse enough to keep pitching it against elite company. Whether that optimism is rewarded is another matter. The last win came at Gowran Park in July 2023, now 34 months ago, and the six most recent runs have all ended without a victory, the finishing positions of 14th, 6th, 15th, 15th, 18th, and 12th suggesting a horse that is finding things tough at present.

Where Navagio has genuinely earned its place is on a wet surface. On soft or muddy ground, it has won 2 of 13 races — a 15% win rate, which is nearly double its overall record. That is the kind of specific condition that a trainer keeps an eye on. Ciaran Murphy, who operates out of Mullingar in County Westmeath and has had 18 winners already this season, clearly knows what brings the best out of this horse. The sweet spot in terms of trip is around a mile and one furlong to a mile and two — at those distances it has won 2 of its 15 races, or roughly 1 in every 7 or 8 attempts, which is easily the strongest part of its profile.

Ben Coen has been the regular partner, sitting aboard for 7 of those 34 career races and winning once together — a 14% win rate between them, which is actually better than the horse's overall average. The first career win came at The Curragh back in May 2022, and there have been three victories in total since. For all that the recent form makes for difficult reading, Navagio is still racing, still being aimed at decent contests, and on the right day — a wet one, over a mile and a bit — it remains a horse worth watching.