Tullybeg

His best days on a racecourse came in a productive spell that included a first win at Navan in September 2021 and a final career victory at Down Royal in September 2023. That last win is now 33 months ago, and his recent form — two fifths, a fourth, and a second across his last six outings, with no win — tells the story of a horse running consistently but finding the winning post just out of reach. At his age, that's not unusual. Staying competitive at eleven is an achievement in itself, and the fact he raced just yesterday shows he remains a willing participant.

Ground conditions matter with Tullybeg. On slightly soft ground he has won 2 of his 6 races in those conditions — a 33% win rate that stands well above his career average. Too soft, though, and he loses his edge. Jockey Danny Gilligan, who has ridden him in 8 of his races and won once together, described a run at Ballinrobe where everything clicked: perfect jumping, a natural rhythm, Tullybeg finding himself in contention so easily that Gilligan actually had to ease him back after a big leap at the third-last. That's the horse at his best — fluent and confident, not needing to be pushed into the race.

He has tried his hand at Class 2 level — among the top races in Britain and Ireland — three times without winning, which is perhaps a touch above his ceiling. McMahon once suggested there could be a staying prize in him, and that remains the most realistic ambition: a well-judged run on decent ground at a level that suits. The yard has sent out 4 winners this season, so the operation is in reasonable nick. Whether Tullybeg can add a seventh career win at this stage of his life is an open question, but he's still turning up and still making his presence felt. At eleven, that counts for something.