The recent form is actually more encouraging than the overall record suggests. In its last six races, Whatswrongnow has posted 3-2-6-3-5-11 (reading from oldest to most recent), with two runner-up finishes and a pair of thirds in that stretch. The horse raced just yesterday and is clearly being kept busy, which suggests the team believes there is a race to be won somewhere. The puzzle is finding it.
Jockey Rory Mulligan has had more rides on this horse than anyone — nine in total — and the pair are still waiting for that first win together. That is not necessarily a criticism of either horse or rider. Some partnerships just keep finding one that is slightly better on the day. But nine attempts without a winner does start to feel like a running joke that everyone involved would dearly love to stop telling.
The name, of course, is the thing. Whoever christened this horse either had a dark sense of humour or an uncanny gift for prophecy. At its best, Whatswrongnow is competitive enough to place regularly, and a horse that finishes second or third with any consistency is not without merit. But in racing, placed money is not winning money, and at five years old the window for breaking that duck is not getting any wider. The next run — and there will clearly be a next run soon — will be worth watching.
| Course | Races | Results | Last visited | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dundalk Galloping |
7 | 1 second, 6 other | 7 Nov | 0% |
| Fairyhouse Galloping |
5 | 2 seconds, 1 third, 2 other | 1 Jul | 0% |
| Navan Galloping |
5 | 1 second, 1 third, 3 other | 16 May | 0% |
| Naas Galloping |
4 | 4 other | 24 Jun | 0% |
| Bellewstown Sharp |
4 | 4 other | 3 Jul | 0% |
| Cork Galloping |
3 | 1 second, 1 third, 1 other | 19 May | 0% |
| Limerick Galloping |
1 | 1 third | 11 Jul | 0% |
| Down Royal Galloping |
1 | 1 other | 17 Jul | 0% |
| Sligo Sharp |
1 | 1 other | 4 May | 0% |
| Tipperary Galloping |
1 | 1 other | 8 Aug | 0% |
| Laytown Galloping |
1 | 1 other | 4 Sep | 0% |