Portnacoo
Portnacoo is an eight-year-old with a modest but genuine edge: it wins roughly 1 in every 6 races, and when it finds the right circumstances, it can be genuinely difficult to beat. The horse has won 4 of its 23 career races, but the distribution of those wins tells the real story. At Downpatrick, it is almost a different animal — three victories from five races there make it a serious course specialist, the kind of horse that tracks well and thrives on that particular surface and layout. That 60% win rate at one track is the kind of record that catches the eye of people who know the sport.Based on TrackLab's analysis
📊 Key numbers
Career totals for this horse
🔍 Full analysis
Our model's view, based on this horse's career and recent runs
John Joseph Hanlon's yard at Bagenalstown has been sending winners out regularly this season, and Portnacoo has contributed its share. The horse's most recent victory came at Carlisle on 17 February 2025, but that was 14 months ago — a long dry spell. Since then, it has raced six times without a win, though it has managed two fourth-place finishes and a couple of places, suggesting it is still competitive enough to get into the frame. A break of 39 days suggests the yard has had time to reassess what works for this horse, and there is always a chance that time off the track could sharpen it up for a return.
The key to Portnacoo's future almost certainly lies in finding races at Downpatrick or tracks that suit the same way. On its day, it has shown it can win — and win consistently at the right venue. For a horse at this age and stage of its career, that kind of course form is worth noting.
⚡ Strengths and risks
What helps this horse and what to watch out for
✓ What works in their favour
✔ Course specialist at Downpatrick: 3 wins from 5 starts (60%)
⚠ What to watch out for
⚠ Poor record on yielding ground: 0 wins from 5 starts
⚠ Poor record on heavy ground: 0 wins from 3 starts
⚠ Poor record on yielding_to_soft ground: 0 wins from 3 starts
⚠ Poor record on soft ground: 0 wins from 3 starts
⚠ Struggles on RH Galloping tracks: 0 wins from 9 starts
🎯 Where this horse runs best
Results split by ground, distance, race level and track shape
🌧 Ground
Good to yielding (mild give)
Likes
Good (a little give)
Unknown
Good to firm (fairly firm)
Unknown
Good to soft (some give)
Unknown
Yielding (slightly soft)
Avoids
Yielding to soft (damp)
Avoids
📏 Race distance
Long Distance (2M+)
Likes
🏅 Race level
Class 4 (standard)
Unknown
🏟 Track shape
Right-handed, hilly
Loves
Right-handed, tight
Unknown
Left-handed, long straights
Unknown
Right-handed, long straights
Avoids
Right-handed, tight turns
Avoids
📅 Recent runs
The last 10 races, most recent first
18 Feb
4th
Punchestown
Long Distance (2m+) · Soft · 6 runners
22 Jan
9th
Gowran Park
Long Distance (2m+) · Heavy · 18 runners
27 Nov
DNF
Taunton
Long Distance (2m+) · Good_To_Firm · 8 runners
23 Oct
DNF
Clonmel
Long Distance (2m+) · Yielding · 9 runners
3 Oct
4th
Gowran Park
Long Distance (2m+) · Soft · 11 runners
15 Jun
7th
Downpatrick
Long Distance (2m+) · Yielding_To_Soft · 11 runners
30 Apr
DNF
Punchestown
Long Distance (2m+) · Yielding · 28 runners
17 Feb
🏆 Won
Carlisle
Long Distance (2m+) · Good_To_Soft · 6 runners
1 Jan
4th
Fairyhouse
Long Distance (2m+) · Yielding_To_Soft · 22 runners
15 Dec
3rd
Navan
Long Distance (2m+) · Yielding_To_Soft · 13 runners
🏇 Jockeys
Every jockey who has ridden this horse, most rides first
🏟 Course record
Win rate at each course this horse has visited
| Course | Races | Results | Last run | Win rate |
|---|
| Downpatrick Undulating |
5 |
3 wins, 2 other |
15 Jun |
60% |
| Punchestown Galloping |
4 |
4 other |
18 Feb |
0% |
| Fairyhouse Galloping |
2 |
2 other |
1 Jan |
0% |
| Clonmel Sharp |
2 |
2 other |
23 Oct |
0% |
| Limerick Galloping |
2 |
2 other |
23 May |
0% |
| Gowran Park Undulating |
2 |
2 other |
22 Jan |
0% |
| Carlisle Undulating |
1 |
1 win |
17 Feb |
100% |
| Sligo Sharp |
1 |
1 other |
21 Aug |
0% |
| Kilbeggan Tight |
1 |
1 other |
21 Apr |
0% |
| Down Royal Galloping |
1 |
1 other |
14 Apr |
0% |
| Taunton Undulating |
1 |
1 other |
27 Nov |
0% |
| Navan Galloping |
1 |
1 third |
15 Dec |
0% |