The recent form does little to change that picture. In its last six outings, the best Tuff Days has managed is a fifth place, with a sixth thrown in among a string of mid-to-back-of-the-field finishes. It raced just yesterday, so it is clearly still active and being given every opportunity, but the performances suggest a horse that is competitive enough to keep turning up without quite being good enough to win.
Jockey Mike O'Connor has partnered Tuff Days more than anyone else, the pair teaming up 12 times together without a single win between them. That is not necessarily a criticism of either horse or rider — sometimes a partnership simply reflects the horse's ceiling rather than any particular failing. Trainer Michael Barry has found winners this season, so the yard is not without ability, but Tuff Days appears to be the kind of horse that keeps the yard busy rather than prosperous.
None of this means the horse lacks value to the people who care for it and run it — plenty of horses fill out a card and give owners something to cheer for even from fifth place. But as a betting prospect or a horse to watch in search of a breakthrough, the record speaks plainly: 33 chances, zero wins. At nine years old, Tuff Days has earned its name the hard way.
| Course | Races | Results | Last visited | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wexford Sharp |
6 | 6 other | 29 Aug | 0% |
| Kilbeggan Tight |
6 | 2 seconds, 4 other | 31 May | 0% |
| Ballinrobe Sharp |
4 | 1 third, 3 other | 13 Sep | 0% |
| Limerick Galloping |
3 | 3 other | 21 May | 0% |
| Tramore Sharp |
3 | 3 other | 1 Jun | 0% |
| Killarney Sharp |
3 | 3 other | 5 Oct | 0% |
| Cork Galloping |
2 | 2 other | 1 Aug | 0% |
| Downpatrick Undulating |
2 | 2 other | 15 Jun | 0% |
| Sligo Sharp |
1 | 1 other | 23 Aug | 0% |
| Roscommon Sharp |
1 | 1 other | 6 Aug | 0% |
| Clonmel Sharp |
1 | 1 other | 3 Oct | 0% |
| Tipperary Galloping |
1 | 1 other | 6 Jul | 0% |