Punchbowl Flyer
Punchbowl Flyer is a horse that knows exactly what it likes, and it has taken nine years and 46 races to prove it. With three wins and eleven places on his record, he wins roughly one in every 15 races—not an eye-catching statistic on its own. But the real story lies in the ground beneath his hooves. On normal conditions, Punchbowl Flyer becomes a different prospect entirely, winning three of his last eleven races at that level, a win rate of around 27 percent. Trainer
John O'Shea has been clear about his horse's preferences: Punchbowl Flyer thrives when mud is flying and the ground is soft and heavy, and struggles when things are firm or fast. It is the kind of useful knowledge that separates a plodding, unreliable horse from one that can still deliver when circumstances align.
Based on TrackLab's AI analysis
Owner
The Cross Racing Club
📊 Key Numbers
Career statistics for this horse
23.9%
Place rate (top 3)
avg ~30%
🔍 Full Analysis
TrackLab's AI-generated assessment based on career data and recent form
His recent form suggests those circumstances have been coming his way. In his last six races, he has won twice, a run of form that includes places in four of those outings as well. His most recent victory came eight weeks ago at Ffos Las on normal ground—exactly the conditions that suit him. Yet there is a curious disconnect between his improvement and his partnership with regular rider Charles Bishop, who has ridden him eleven times without a win. When Punchbowl Flyer has won, it has been with other jockeys in the saddle.
At nine years old, Punchbowl Flyer has settled into the lower reaches of racing, competing mostly at Class 2 level without success there. But that does not diminish what he offers. He is a horse that runs regularly, stays sound, and produces results when ground conditions favour him. For a horse that earned his first career win as recently as August 2025, that consistency is worth something. He remains active and competitive, and to his the yard, that has value enough.
⚡ Strengths & Risks
What the data says works for and against this horse
✓ What works in their favour
✔ Excellent record on good ground: 3 wins from 11 starts (27%)
⚠ What to watch out for
⚠ Poor record on soft ground: 0 wins from 11 starts
⚠ Poor record on standard ground: 0 wins from 8 starts
⚠ Poor record on good_to_soft ground: 0 wins from 8 starts
⚠ Poor record on heavy ground: 0 wins from 5 starts
⚠ Yet to win at Wolverhampton in 8 attempts
⚠ Struggles on RH Sharp tracks: 0 wins from 5 starts
🎯 Where This Horse Thrives
Performance broken down by ground, distance, class, and track type
🌧 Ground Conditions
Standard to slow (all-weather)
Unknown
Good to firm (drying out)
Unknown
Standard (all-weather)
Avoids
Good to soft (some give)
Avoids
🏅 Competition Level
Class 2 (high-level)
Avoids
Class 3 (mid-level)
Avoids
Class 4 (standard)
Avoids
Class 5 (entry-level)
Avoids
Class 6 (grassroots)
Loves
🏟 Track Shape
Left-handed, long straights
Loves
Right-handed, long straights
Unknown
Left-handed, tight turns
Unknown
Right-handed, tight turns
Avoids
Left-handed, hilly
Avoids
Right-handed, hilly
Avoids
📅 Recent Runs
The last 10 races, most recent first
15 Aug
7th
Lingfield Park
5f – 6½f · Standard · 8 runners
30 Jul
6th
Wolverhampton
5f – 6½f · Standard · 11 runners
23 Jun
🏆 Won
Ffos Las
5f – 6½f · Good · 7 runners
15 Jun
🏆 Won
Chepstow
5f – 6½f · Good · 7 runners
6 Jun
2nd
Chepstow
5f – 6½f · Soft · 12 runners
1 Jun
DNF
Wolverhampton
7f – 1m · Standard · 12 runners
21 May
7th
Chepstow
5f – 6½f · Good_To_Soft · 13 runners
25 Apr
8th
Haydock Park
5f – 6½f · Good_To_Firm · 11 runners
4 Apr
3rd
Wolverhampton
5f – 6½f · Standard · 9 runners
17 Mar
4th
Wolverhampton
7f – 1m · Standard · 11 runners
🏇 Jockey Partnerships
Every jockey who has ridden this horse, sorted by rides together
🏟 Track Record
Win rate at each course this horse has visited
| Course | Races | Results | Last visited | Win rate |
|---|
| Chepstow Galloping |
8 |
2 wins, 3 seconds, 1 third, 2 other |
15 Jun |
25% |
| Wolverhampton Galloping |
8 |
1 second, 1 third, 6 other |
30 Jul |
0% |
| Windsor Sharp |
4 |
1 second, 3 other |
14 Oct |
0% |
| Goodwood Undulating |
4 |
4 other |
15 Oct |
0% |
| Ffos Las Galloping |
3 |
1 win, 2 other |
23 Jun |
33.3% |
| Newbury Galloping |
2 |
2 other |
19 Aug |
0% |
| York Galloping |
2 |
2 other |
11 May |
0% |
| Doncaster Galloping |
2 |
2 other |
23 Jul |
0% |
| Bath Undulating |
2 |
2 other |
21 Oct |
0% |
| Haydock Park Galloping |
2 |
2 other |
25 Apr |
0% |
| Hamilton Park Sharp |
1 |
1 other |
17 May |
0% |
| Epsom Downs Undulating |
1 |
1 other |
4 Jun |
0% |
| Catterick Bridge Sharp |
1 |
1 other |
31 May |
0% |
| Ayr Galloping |
1 |
1 other |
23 Sep |
0% |
| Nottingham Galloping |
1 |
1 other |
19 Jul |
0% |
| Kempton Park Galloping |
1 |
1 other |
2 Aug |
0% |
| Pontefract Undulating |
1 |
1 other |
7 Oct |
0% |
| Lingfield Park Sharp |
1 |
1 other |
15 Aug |
0% |
| Ascot Galloping |
1 |
1 other |
2 Oct |
0% |