Topgun Simmy

The win rate tells an interesting story. Four wins from 19 races works out at roughly 1 in every 5, which is a solid return, but the more compelling number is what's happened recently: 2 wins from the last 6 races. That's a horse in form, not a horse fading. The most recent victory came at Stratford-on-Avon in August 2025, and with a race logged just one day ago, Topgun Simmy is clearly being kept busy by the yard in Bagenalstown, Co Carlow, where trainer John Joseph Hanlon has sent out 11 winners already this season — a yard that knows how to get horses ready to perform.

The partnership with amateur jockey Mr Paddy Hanlon is one worth noting. Across 11 races together, they've won 3 times — a win rate of 27%, or just over 1 in every 4 rides. For context, that's meaningfully better than the horse's overall career average, which suggests the combination genuinely suits. When Hanlon is in the saddle, Topgun Simmy seems to find another gear.

Ground conditions matter enormously in racing, and this horse has clear preferences. On normal ground, Topgun Simmy has won 3 times from just 8 races — that's a remarkable 38%, or nearly 2 in every 5. To put that in perspective: if you only watched this horse run on its preferred surface, you'd have seen it win more often than not across its career. That's the kind of stat that makes a knowledgeable punter sit up straight.

The first win came at Punchestown in June 2024, which is a track with genuine prestige in the Irish racing calendar, and a fine place to announce yourself. Since then, Topgun Simmy has developed into a reliable, competitive horse that earns its keep. Not a superstar — but a genuine, honest performer that's very much still on the way up.