Sphagnum

The standout feature of Sphagnum's record is his love of soft ground. On wet or muddy terrain, he wins more than one race in every three — a genuine edge that makes him worth backing whenever the ground turns heavy. More striking still is his near-perfect record at Downpatrick, where he has won two of his three races there. That kind of course form is rare and valuable; it suggests he genuinely loves something about that track, whether the layout or the ground conditions it typically offers. His last victory came at Cork on 3 November 2024, though he has since gone six races without another win, most recently finishing ninth just a day ago. At nine years old and still racing regularly, Sphagnum is an experienced campaigner who knows the game.

Dillon Maxwell has ridden him most often, winning three of 24 races together — a win rate in line with the horse's overall form. Broderick's yard has sent out only two winners this season, which speaks to the modest level at which both horse and trainer operate. Sphagnum is not a horse bound for graded company or big-money prizes, but for a decade-old veteran still pulling on racing silks, he represents steady, genuine value when the ground is in his favour and when he lines up at a track where he has proven form.