The recent form tells a more encouraging story, at least in part. Reading from the most recent race backwards — 2, 5, 7, 11, 16, 12 — there is a clear improvement at the sharp end. That second-place finish is the highlight of the career so far, and it suggests the horse is capable of competing at a decent level even if the winner's enclosure has remained out of reach.
What works in Struck Oil's favour is who is doing the training. Gavin Cromwell's yard in Navan, County Meath, has sent out 98 winners this season alone — that is a stable firing on all cylinders. Cromwell has a reputation for placing horses carefully and getting the best out of animals that need time to find their feet. A horse in that kind of care, still only five years old and showing a recent upturn in form, is not necessarily a lost cause. The interesting question now is whether that second place turns out to be a stepping stone or just a false dawn.
| Course | Races | Results | Last visited | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thurles Undulating |
2 | 2 other | 20 Nov | 0% |
| Listowel Sharp |
1 | 1 other | 27 Sep | 0% |
| Cork Galloping |
1 | 1 other | 20 Apr | 0% |
| Punchestown Galloping |
1 | 1 other | 2 May | 0% |
| Bellewstown Sharp |
1 | 1 second | 18 Apr | 0% |
| Fairyhouse Galloping |
1 | 1 other | 11 Oct | 0% |