Shanbally Kid

The horse is trained by W P Mullins, whose yard at Muine Bheag in Co Carlow has sent out 237 winners this season alone. That is one of the most powerful training operations in jump racing, which means Shanbally Kid competes in serious company. Sure enough, three of its races have come at Class 1 level — the very top of the game — and it has yet to win at that grade. That is no embarrassment. Being placed in a top race is something most horses never get close to.

What does stand out is Shanbally Kid's relationship with wet, muddy ground. In six races on soft going, it has won twice — that is a win rate of 33%, or 1 in every 3, which is a completely different animal from its overall record. Plenty of horses tolerate soft ground; this one actively thrives on it. When the rain comes, Shanbally Kid is worth a second look.

Recent form suggests a horse that is still very much in the game. The last six runs show a couple of blanks, a pair of fourth-place finishes, and crucially, a win at Punchestown in May 2025 — one of Ireland's great jumping venues, not a track where soft touches win races. That victory, coming 21 days before its most recent run, confirms this is a live, competitive horse rather than one coasting through its final seasons.

Danny Mullins takes the ride most often, partnering Shanbally Kid in five of its races and winning one of them — a 20% win rate together, or 1 in every 5. For a horse that has won just 3 from 19 in total, that is a productive partnership worth watching. When the conditions turn soft and Mullins is in the saddle, Shanbally Kid has a habit of making itself relevant.