Valiant Force

The overall career numbers are genuinely solid. Six wins and ten places from 24 races, a win rate of around 1 in every 4, and a career that has touched the very top level of the sport. On 22 June 2023, Valiant Force won a Class 1 race at Ascot — one of the most prestigious venues in British racing, hosting some of the biggest days in the sport's calendar. That was also its first ever career win, which makes it all the more striking. Horses that open their account at the highest level are rare, and it signals a horse with real quality underneath.

On the ground, Valiant Force has a clear preference. On normal conditions it has won 5 of 13 races — a win rate of 38%, or just under 2 in every 5. That is comfortably above its overall career average and suggests the team will be looking carefully at the ground before committing to a race.

In the saddle, David Egan has been the regular partner, riding in 13 of those 24 races together. Two wins from 13 is a win rate of around 15%, roughly 1 in every 6-7 rides, which sits below the horse's overall average. That gap is worth noting — Valiant Force has clearly found its best form with other riders at certain moments, including that Ascot victory. Trainer Robson De Aguiar, based in Mullingar in County Westmeath, has had 11 winners from the yard this season, so the operation is in decent health.

The recent form tells a different story. Finishing 9th, 9th, and 10th in its last three runs points to a horse that has gone quiet after that Dundalk win in February. It is still racing — it ran just yesterday — but the yard will be hoping that Dundalk track record holds the key to unlocking another good run.