Switch From Diesel

Trained by Ross O'Sullivan at Kilcullen in County Kildare, Switch From Diesel has found his groove at Punchestown, where he has won 2 of his 5 races at the track — a course specialist's record that suggests he runs best on familiar ground. Her most recent victory came there in June, just four months ago, which shows she remains competitive at her best haunts. The horse prefers normal ground conditions and thrives on it; she has won 2 of her 3 races on such conditions, a 67 per cent win rate that tells you she struggles when the track is either very wet or very firm.

In the saddle, Switch From Diesel shows a clear preference for Mr R W Barron. When they team up, Barron has ridden him to 3 wins from 7 races — a 43 per cent success rate that is far better than the horse's overall figures. That partnership is worth noting: it suggests the horse responds to this particular jockey's handling. Her recent form has been hot and cold; in her last six races she has finished second, third, first, first, eighth, and fourth, which shows flashes of sharpness mixed with some flat days. Still, she won twice in that six-race run, and she raced just yesterday, so she remains active and in the mix. With O'Sullivan's yard sending out 40 winners this season, Switch From Diesel is part of a genuinely strong operation.