Notforalongtime

The story behind that transformation is worth knowing. When Hourigan took him on, she has said he had lost his way entirely and was carrying a few problems with him. Her team sweetened him up, fitted him with cheekpieces, and pointed him at Dundalk's all-weather surface. His most recent win came there on 19 November 2025, and jockey Wayne Hassett captured what it is like to ride him in those moments: coming into the straight, Hassett wasn't sure the horse would pick up at all, and spent the final fifty yards praying. He did, head down, grinding it out.

That grittiness has always been part of the picture. Hourigan has spoken about early wind surgery and other interventions to help him progress, and he has repaid that patience across a long career. His most regular partner has been Rory Mulligan, who has ridden him 11 times for 1 win together — modest on the face of it, but the pair clearly know each other well by now. Hourigan's yard has sent out 6 winners this season, so the operation is in decent form overall.

The current run of six races without a win will not alarm anyone who has followed him. He has placed — finishing third twice in his last six outings — and he raced just one day ago, so he is clearly fit and active. On normal ground conditions he wins roughly 1 in every 4 races (7 from 28), which is a genuinely strong record. Put him on normal ground at Dundalk and that number becomes the most relevant statistic in the field. He has been here before, gone quiet for a spell, and then found the line when it mattered. At nine years old, Notforalongtime seems in no hurry to wrap things up.