Smackwater Jack
Smackwater Jack is a 12-year-old with the kind of longevity that makes you wonder if he genuinely loves racing or is just too stubborn to retire. Three wins from 26 races is an honest record—he wins roughly once every eight or nine outings—but what matters more is that he is still out there competing at a decent level. His trainer, Denise Foster at Longwood in Co Meath, clearly sees something in him worth keeping in work, and the horse's recent form suggests that instinct is paying off. He won at Fairyhouse just last week, his most recent success, and before that finished in the top 3 in three of his last four runs.Based on TrackLab's analysis
📊 Key numbers
Career totals for this horse
🔍 Full analysis
Our model's view, based on this horse's career and recent runs
The clues to what makes Smackwater Jack tick are written into his record. He is practically a different horse on slightly soft ground, winning two of his four races on those conditions—a 50% win rate that stands out sharply against his overall 12%. Punchestown is another story entirely. He has won twice there from seven races, marking it as a course that suits him. His first career win came at Punchestown in June 2025, and he returned there enough times that the track clearly features in his team's plans. Foster has spoken about his potential as a staying chaser, suggesting there is still ambition left in the yard for this older campaigner. The fact that he remains active, having raced just days ago, says either that he is genuinely enjoying his work or that he has simply become the kind of faithful servant you don't easily part with. Either way, Smackwater Jack deserves respect for still turning up.
⚡ Strengths and risks
What helps this horse and what to watch out for
✓ What works in their favour
✔ Excellent record on good_to_yielding ground: 2 wins from 4 starts (50%)
⚠ What to watch out for
⚠ Poor record on heavy ground: 0 wins from 6 starts
⚠ Poor record on soft_to_heavy ground: 0 wins from 3 starts
🎯 Where this horse runs best
Results split by ground, distance, race level and track shape
🌧 Ground
Good to yielding (mild give)
Loves
Good (a little give)
Likes
Yielding (slightly soft)
Unknown
Good to soft (some give)
Unknown
Yielding to soft (damp)
Unknown
Soft to heavy (wet)
Avoids
📏 Race distance
Long Distance (2M+)
Likes
🏅 Race level
Class 3 (mid-level)
Unknown
Class 4 (standard)
Unknown
🏟 Track shape
Right-handed, long straights
Loves
Right-handed, hilly
Unknown
Left-handed, long straights
Unknown
Right-handed, tight
Unknown
Left-handed, tight turns
Unknown
Left-handed, hilly
Unknown
Right-handed, tight turns
Avoids
📅 Recent runs
The last 10 races, most recent first
13 Oct
8th
Punchestown
Long Distance (2m+) · Good · 18 runners
5 Oct
🏆 Won
Fairyhouse
Long Distance (2m+) · Good · 13 runners
3 Sep
9th
Kilbeggan
Long Distance (2m+) · Good_To_Yielding · 17 runners
4 Aug
9th
Roscommon
Long Distance (2m+) · Yielding_To_Soft · 19 runners
21 Jul
2nd
Ballinrobe
Long Distance (2m+) · Good · 19 runners
15 Jun
3rd
Kilbeggan
Long Distance (2m+) · Good_To_Yielding · 19 runners
7 Jun
🏆 Won
Punchestown
Long Distance (2m+) · Good_To_Yielding · 13 runners
13 May
9th
Punchestown
Long Distance (2m+) · Good · 21 runners
2 May
DNF
Punchestown
Long Distance (2m+) · Yielding · 25 runners
12 Mar
10th
Limerick
Long Distance (2m+) · Heavy · 17 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 |
|---|
| Punchestown Galloping |
7 |
2 wins, 5 other |
13 Oct |
28.6% |
| Fairyhouse Galloping |
4 |
1 win, 3 other |
5 Oct |
25% |
| Roscommon Sharp |
2 |
2 other |
4 Aug |
0% |
| Limerick Galloping |
2 |
2 other |
12 Mar |
0% |
| Kilbeggan Tight |
2 |
1 third, 1 other |
3 Sep |
0% |
| Chepstow Galloping |
1 |
1 other |
3 Dec |
0% |
| Thurles Undulating |
1 |
1 other |
16 Mar |
0% |
| Cork Galloping |
1 |
1 other |
4 Aug |
0% |
| Wexford Sharp |
1 |
1 other |
25 Apr |
0% |
| Uttoxeter Sharp |
1 |
1 other |
28 Jan |
0% |
| Navan Galloping |
1 |
1 other |
17 Jan |
0% |
| Ballinrobe Sharp |
1 |
1 second |
21 Jul |
0% |
| Kelso Undulating |
1 |
1 other |
29 Dec |
0% |
| Gowran Park Undulating |
1 |
1 second |
8 Mar |
0% |