Surviving Murmansk
Surviving Murmansk is a horse that has learned to make the most of very little. In 49 career races, the eight-year-old has won just once — at Tramore on 17 August 2025 — and placed five times. That single victory came 14 months ago, making it a long drought since. Over those 49 runs, the horse has earned money in roughly one race out of every 10, and in five of the last six outings, it has finished outside the frame entirely, with recent results reading 9-10-6-2-11-10. Yet Surviving Murmansk keeps showing up, which suggests the horse has found a home with trainer
James M Barcoe at Gowran, Co. Kilkenny, where it continues to race regularly and was last seen just a day ago.
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
Where Surviving Murmansk has managed to eke out any real success is at distance — the horse performs best over two miles or longer, winning 1 of its 26 races at that trip (about 4%). That single win has come under different jockeys over the years, but Adrian O'Shea, who rides the horse most often, has yet to get a victory together, managing 0 wins from 10 attempts. At eight years old, Surviving Murmansk is a seasoned campaigner, the kind of horse that gives trainers and the yard exactly what they expect: honest effort, few wins, and a horse whose modest talent and longevity keep it busy. For a yard like Barcoe's, which has saddled 7 winners this season, Surviving Murmusk represents the backbone of racing — not the star, but the steady presence that fills a card and keeps turning up for work.
⚡ Strengths and risks
What helps this horse and what to watch out for
✓ What works in their favour
✔ Excellent record on good ground: 1 wins from 24 starts (4%)
✔ Well suited by Long Distance (2m+) distances: 4% win rate
⚠ What to watch out for
⚠ Poor record on standard ground: 0 wins from 7 starts
⚠ Poor record on good_to_yielding ground: 0 wins from 4 starts
⚠ Poor record on yielding ground: 0 wins from 4 starts
⚠ Poor record on yielding_to_soft ground: 0 wins from 3 starts
⚠ Poor record on good_to_firm ground: 0 wins from 3 starts
⚠ Yet to win at Dundalk in 7 attempts
⚠ Struggles on LH Galloping tracks: 0 wins from 14 starts
⚠ Struggles on RH Galloping tracks: 0 wins from 9 starts
⚠ Struggles on RH Undulating tracks: 0 wins from 6 starts
🎯 Where this horse runs best
Results split by ground, distance, race level and track shape
🌧 Ground
Good (a little give)
Loves
Soft to heavy (wet)
Unknown
Standard (all-weather)
Avoids
Good to yielding (mild give)
Avoids
Yielding (slightly soft)
Avoids
Yielding to soft (damp)
Avoids
Good to firm (fairly firm)
Avoids
📏 Race distance
Long Distance (2M+)
Loves
🏟 Track shape
Right-handed, tight turns
Loves
Left-handed, tight turns
Unknown
Left-handed, long straights
Avoids
Right-handed, long straights
Avoids
Right-handed, hilly
Avoids
Right-handed, tight
Avoids
📅 Recent runs
The last 10 races, most recent first
25 Sep
9th
Listowel
Long Distance (2m+) · Good_To_Yielding · 18 runners
16 Aug
10th
Tramore
Long Distance (2m+) · Good_To_Yielding · 16 runners
8 Aug
6th
Kilbeggan
Long Distance (2m+) · Good · 14 runners
3 Aug
2nd
Cork
Long Distance (2m+) · Good · 18 runners
24 Jul
11th
Kilbeggan
Long Distance (2m+) · Good · 19 runners
7 Jul
10th
Tramore
1m6f – 2m · Good · 13 runners
30 May
DNF
Tramore
Long Distance (2m+) · Good · 17 runners
21 Nov
13th
Dundalk
1m6f – 2m · Standard · 17 runners
9 Oct
6th
Tramore
Long Distance (2m+) · Yielding · 8 runners
20 Aug
7th
Sligo
Long Distance (2m+) · Good · 10 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 |
|---|
| Tramore Sharp |
8 |
1 win, 7 other |
16 Aug |
12.5% |
| Dundalk Galloping |
7 |
1 third, 6 other |
21 Nov |
0% |
| Kilbeggan Tight |
4 |
1 second, 3 other |
8 Aug |
0% |
| Gowran Park Undulating |
4 |
4 other |
4 Oct |
0% |
| Cork Galloping |
3 |
1 second, 2 other |
3 Aug |
0% |
| Leopardstown Galloping |
3 |
3 other |
22 Jun |
0% |
| The Curragh Galloping |
3 |
3 other |
16 Apr |
0% |
| Wexford Sharp |
3 |
3 other |
24 Jul |
0% |
| Tipperary Galloping |
2 |
2 other |
5 Jul |
0% |
| Limerick Galloping |
2 |
2 other |
22 May |
0% |
| Naas Galloping |
2 |
2 other |
20 Dec |
0% |
| Listowel Sharp |
2 |
2 other |
25 Sep |
0% |
| Clonmel Sharp |
1 |
1 other |
27 Mar |
0% |
| Punchestown Galloping |
1 |
1 other |
10 Oct |
0% |
| Thurles Undulating |
1 |
1 other |
1 Dec |
0% |
| Roscommon Sharp |
1 |
1 other |
13 May |
0% |
| Sligo Sharp |
1 |
1 other |
20 Aug |
0% |
| Downpatrick Undulating |
1 |
1 other |
14 Jul |
0% |