Whispering Willow
Whispering Willow has been knocking on the door for a while now, and when the breakthrough finally came in May at Punchestown, it felt overdue. The five-year-old broke its duck with that win on 13 May 2026, but has struggled to build on it since — picking up only places in the four months that have followed. With just one win from eleven races, this is a horse that has found life harder than many, though the string of minor placings suggests it is competitive at whatever level it is entered.Based on TrackLab's AI analysis
📊 Key Numbers
Career statistics for this horse
36.4%
Place rate (top 3)
avg ~30%
🔍 Full Analysis
TrackLab's AI-generated assessment based on career data and recent form
The frustrating part of Whispering Willow's record is that it keeps getting close. Looking at the last six runs, there are three second-place finishes mixed in with one third, a sixth, and a tenth, which hints at a horse that can stay competitive but struggles to find that extra gear when it matters most. After going four months without a win since May, there is a question mark about whether that single victory will remain an isolated moment or the start of something better. Trained by Gavin Cromwell at Navan, the yard has been prolific this season with 96 winners already, so Whispering Willow has the backing of a top operation — but right now, it is very much searching for consistency. The horse raced just a day ago, so it remains actively campaigned, which at least suggests the trainer still sees potential worth developing.
⚡ Strengths & Risks
What the data says works for and against this horse
✓ What works in their favour
✔ Excellent record on good ground: 1 wins from 6 starts (17%)
⚠ What to watch out for
⚠ Poor record on good_to_yielding ground: 0 wins from 3 starts
🎯 Where This Horse Thrives
Performance broken down by ground, distance, class, and track type
🌧 Ground Conditions
Yielding (slightly soft)
Unknown
Good to yielding (mild give)
Avoids
📏 Race Distance
Long Distance (2M+)
Likes
🏟 Track Shape
Right-handed, long straights
Loves
Left-handed, tight turns
Unknown
Right-handed, hilly
Unknown
Right-handed, tight turns
Unknown
Right-handed, tight
Avoids
📅 Recent Runs
The last 10 races, most recent first
28 Aug
2nd
Down Royal
Long Distance (2m+) · Good · 16 runners
24 Jul
10th
Kilbeggan
Long Distance (2m+) · Good · 19 runners
6 Jul
6th
Roscommon
1m6f – 2m · Good · 19 runners
1 Jun
3rd
Listowel
Long Distance (2m+) · Yielding · 7 runners
22 May
3rd
Downpatrick
Long Distance (2m+) · Good_To_Yielding · 14 runners
13 May
🏆 Won
Punchestown
Long Distance (2m+) · Good · 22 runners
11 Oct
6th
Fairyhouse
Long Distance (2m+) · Yielding · 11 runners
27 Sep
8th
Listowel
Long Distance (2m+) · Good_To_Yielding · 21 runners
8 Sep
11th
Galway
Long Distance (2m+) · Good_To_Yielding · 17 runners
10 Aug
6th
Downpatrick
Long Distance (2m+) · Good · 9 runners
🏇 Jockey Partnerships
Every jockey who has ridden this horse, sorted by rides together
🏟 Track Record
Win rate at each course this horse has visited
| Course | Races | Results | Last visited | Win rate |
|---|
| Listowel Sharp |
2 |
1 third, 1 other |
1 Jun |
0% |
| Galway Tight |
2 |
2 other |
8 Sep |
0% |
| Downpatrick Undulating |
2 |
1 third, 1 other |
22 May |
0% |
| Punchestown Galloping |
1 |
1 win |
13 May |
100% |
| Down Royal Galloping |
1 |
1 second |
28 Aug |
0% |
| Roscommon Sharp |
1 |
1 other |
6 Jul |
0% |
| Fairyhouse Galloping |
1 |
1 other |
11 Oct |
0% |
| Kilbeggan Tight |
1 |
1 other |
24 Jul |
0% |