Ottoman Style

Trained by Dermot A McLoughlin at Bodeen in County Meath, Ottoman Style has been most effective with jockey Conor Maxwell, who has ridden him to 2 wins from 5 races together. That 40 percent partnership rate is worth noting in a world where most jockey-horse combinations are far more modest. The horse's last win came at Down Royal on 17 March 2023 — more than three and a half years ago — and his recent form has flatlined, with no victories in his last six races and finishes of 14th, 4th, and 11th scattered across recent outings. Yet he remains active, having raced just a day ago, suggesting the team still sees something worth pursuing.

What is striking is the consistency of praise from those who have ridden him. After his win at Downpatrick in May 2022, his jockey highlighted his "impeccable" jumping and his relentless galloping power. At Down Royal, Maxwell noted he was "very good" and responded well when asked for more effort. Those observations paint a picture of a horse with genuine ability to stay and jump, a horse with the tools to compete — even if the wins have dried up. At ten years old and without a victory in nearly four years, Ottoman Style is a veteran treading water, waiting for the wet ground that suits him and the right conditions to prove his earlier promise was not a flash in the pan.