Urban War

The pattern of Urban War's recent form tells a fairly blunt story. Over its last six races, it has finished second twice, sixth once, and failed to place in the other three outings. At Class 4 level — where it typically competes — Urban War has run five times without winning, which is exactly the same success rate as its overall record: nothing. For a horse approaching veteran status, this is the reality of a genuine trier without the finishing speed or consistency that wins races. The four places it has earned suggest it belongs in races where it runs, but something always gives in the final stages.

Hanlon's Bagenalstown yard has been productive this season with 11 winners sent out, so Urban War fits into a stable that knows how to get horses to the winner's enclosure — it's just not happened yet with this particular inmate. At eight years old, Urban War is hardly finished, and horses without a win often keep racing because the effort of getting them out the door is the same whether they're likely to win or not. Urban War will run again, probably soon, carrying the same slim hope that has kept it going through 17 races without a breakthrough.