The Mediator

Gordon Elliott, one of Ireland's most powerful trainers, sends horses out from his yard in Longwood, Co Meath with ruthless efficiency — 210 winners already this season alone. When Elliott says a horse has "loads of ability but has been frustrating," that is not a dismissal; that is a trainer who genuinely believes there is more to come. At various points Elliott has talked about The Mediator fully deserving a win and has tinkered with how to place him to find the right opportunity. The horse eventually rewarded that patience with a win at Clonmel in September 2025, his most recent success.

What makes The Mediator interesting is where he comes alive. On wet or muddy ground, he wins 2 from 6 races — that's 33%, meaning he wins roughly 1 in every 3 races when the rain has been falling. That is more than three times his overall win rate, a stark contrast that tells you this horse genuinely transforms in testing conditions. Keep an eye on the forecast. Over longer distances — anything beyond two miles — he has taken all three of his career wins from 18 races at that trip, a rate of around 1 in 6. The stamina test suits him.

Jack Kennedy, one of Ireland's top jockeys, has partnered him five times and won once together — a 20% win rate, or 1 in every 5 rides, which is actually well above the horse's overall average. That combination is worth noting. The Mediator raced just yesterday, so he is right in the thick of an active campaign. A nine-year-old who is still running regularly, still placing, and still winning when conditions suit — there is plenty of life in him yet.