Rough And Tough
Rough And Tough has been away from racing for nearly two and a half years, but before that long break, this three-year-old showed real ability in one specific set of circumstances: deep, muddy ground at Gowran Park. The horse won both its races on that course and did so in wet conditions, winning 2 of its 4 races (a 50% win rate) when the ground was properly soft or heavy. That kind of record in the mud suggests genuine class, even if the overall numbers—2 wins from 14 races—tell a more modest story.Based on TrackLab's analysis
📊 Key numbers
Career totals for this horse
🏁 Next race
Tomorrow
Curragh
About 1.2 miles · Soft, spongy ground · 27 runners
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🔍 Full analysis
Our model's view, based on this horse's career and recent runs
When conditions suit, Rough And Tough has enough in the tank to compete. Strip away the races on faster ground and the longer distances, and you find a horse that thrives over 1m1f to 1m2f in testing conditions. It won 2 of 6 races at that distance range. The partnership with regular rider Gary Carroll never quite clicked, though—0 wins from 5 outings together—which leaves room for a change of jockey to spark a revival. Trainer Michael Mulvany, based at Kells in County Meath, has been sending out winners consistently this season, so the yard is in form.
The real question now is how Rough And Tough will bounce back after nearly 900 days on the sidelines. Its last six races before the break showed some fight—two wins in that stretch—but consistency has never been its strong suit. If the ground comes up soft and muddy, and if the yard can find the right race at a course where this horse has already proved it belongs, there is genuine potential for a surprise. Gowran Park holds good memories for this one, and horses do not forget what they have done well.
⚡ Strengths and risks
What helps this horse and what to watch out for
✓ What works in their favour
✔ Excellent record on heavy ground: 2 wins from 4 starts (50%)
✔ Well suited by 1m1f – 1m2f distances: 33% win rate
⚠ What to watch out for
⚠ Poor record on yielding ground: 0 wins from 4 starts
⚠ Poor record on good ground: 0 wins from 3 starts
⚠ Returning from a 881-day absence
🎯 Where this horse runs best
Results split by ground, distance, race level and track shape
🌧 Ground
Soft to heavy (wet)
Unknown
Good to yielding (mild give)
Unknown
Yielding to soft (damp)
Unknown
Yielding (slightly soft)
Avoids
Good (a little give)
Avoids
🏟 Track shape
Right-handed, hilly
Loves
Right-handed, long straights
Unknown
Right-handed, tight turns
Unknown
Left-handed, long straights
Unknown
Left-handed, tight turns
Unknown
Right-handed, tight
Avoids
📅 Recent runs
The last 10 races, most recent first
30 Oct
3rd
Galway
1m1f – 1m2f · Heavy · 15 runners
17 Oct
🏆 Won
Gowran Park
1m1f – 1m2f · Heavy · 15 runners
16 Oct
🏆 Won
Gowran Park
1m1f – 1m2f · Heavy · 16 runners
4 Oct
7th
Navan
1m3f – 1m4f · Yielding · 23 runners
21 Sep
3rd
Listowel
1m6f – 2m · Soft_To_Heavy · 18 runners
7 Sep
5th
Clonmel
1m1f – 1m2f · Good · 13 runners
30 Aug
8th
Cork
1m6f – 2m · Good · 10 runners
13 Aug
20th
The Curragh
7f – 1m · Good · 25 runners
6 Aug
6th
Galway
1m1f – 1m2f · Yielding_To_Soft · 12 runners
4 Aug
13th
Galway
1m1f – 1m2f · Yielding · 21 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 |
|---|
| Gowran Park Undulating |
4 |
2 wins, 2 other |
17 Oct |
50% |
| Galway Tight |
3 |
1 third, 2 other |
30 Oct |
0% |
| Navan Galloping |
2 |
2 other |
4 Oct |
0% |
| Listowel Sharp |
1 |
1 third |
21 Sep |
0% |
| Sligo Sharp |
1 |
1 other |
16 May |
0% |
| The Curragh Galloping |
1 |
1 other |
13 Aug |
0% |
| Cork Galloping |
1 |
1 other |
30 Aug |
0% |
| Clonmel Sharp |
1 |
1 other |
7 Sep |
0% |