Trustyourinstinct

What makes him genuinely special is his near-total domination of soft, muddy ground: he has won all three of his races on that terrain, a perfect record that stands out sharply against his overall form. He also has a clear sweet spot distance-wise, winning 3 of his last 4 races between one mile one furlong and one mile two furlongs. But the most striking stat is Gowran Park: he has won all three races he has contested there, making it his fortress. At The Curragh, another course he clearly relishes, his record is nearly as commanding. Most recently, eight weeks ago on 19 July at The Curragh, he showed real class, winning decisively in a higher-grade race. The trainer noted afterward that he produced a sharp turn of foot off the bend—not the grinding, desperate finish of a horse merely hanging on, but the explosive acceleration of a genuinely talented runner.

His partnership with jockey Declan McDonogh has been productive, with three wins from eight races together, though he has had other riders and continues to perform. O'Brien's yard is firing on all cylinders this season, with 160 winners to date, and Trustyourinstinct remains a key member of that outfit. A soft-ground specialist with a clear preference for races between a mile and a quarter and a mile and a half, he remains a horse in form and capable of delivering at the right track, in the right conditions, at the right distance.