Shaool

Shaool is trained by JP Murtagh at Coolaghknock Glebe in County Kildare, part of a yard that has sent out 56 winners already this season — a serious operation by any measure. His most regular partner in the saddle is Ben Coen, who has ridden him in 8 of his 13 races and won twice, a win rate of 25%, or roughly 1 in every 4 rides together. That's a partnership that clearly functions well, and Coen will know this horse's rhythms by now.

The distance that suits him best tells you a lot about the kind of horse he is. Over a mile and three to a mile and four furlongs — the middle-distance trips that reward stamina and a good engine — Shaool has won 2 of his 5 races, a 40% win rate. That is a remarkable number. Winning 2 in every 5 races at your preferred trip suggests a horse who is genuinely competitive when conditions are in his favour, not just making up the numbers.

His recent form makes interesting reading too. His last six results, reading from most recent backwards, are 6-1-1-2-3-3. Two wins sandwiched between placed efforts either side — a horse in form, then, who has tailed off a touch in his most recent run but whose underlying profile remains strong. Both of his wins during that stretch came at Leopardstown, which is where his career first got going with his debut win back in June 2025. His most recent victory there came in October 2025. He raced just seven days ago, so this is a horse firmly in the mix and not being saved for a special occasion.

Whether he can add to his tally will depend on whether JP Murtagh keeps finding those middle-distance opportunities at a track that clearly brings out the best in him. The evidence suggests that when those boxes are ticked, Shaool is well worth watching.