Rhythm King

What makes Rhythm King interesting is how effectively he performs in specific circumstances. On very wet and muddy ground, he wins roughly 1 in every 4 races (3 wins from 12 attempts), a significant step up from his overall win rate and a clear sign that he relishes the cut underfoot. Over middle distances of 7 furlongs to a mile, he has won 4 of 15 races (27%), marking that as his sweet spot. More telling still is his dominance at Gowran Park, where he has won 2 of his 3 races — a course specialist record that speaks to horses finding particular venues that suit them perfectly.

Gavin Ryan, his most regular partner, has won on him 4 times from 12 rides (33%), notably better odds than Rhythm King manages with other jockeys, suggesting they have found a working understanding. He races for Mark Fahey's yard at Cloneygath in County Kildare, a trainer sending out winners at a decent clip this season with 24 on the board. For a horse nearing the end of its career without a win in nearly two years, Rhythm King remains the sort who could pick up a race on his day — particularly if the yard can find soft ground over his preferred distance at a track where he has already proven he belongs.