E McNamara

The most interesting number in McNamara's recent record is what happens when the weather turns nasty. On wet, muddy ground — the kind of day most people would rather stay home — the yard has won 5 from 26 races, a win rate of 19%, or nearly 1 in every 5. That is almost double the season average, and it is not a coincidence. Some trainers have a genuine knack for getting horses ready to thrive in difficult conditions, and those numbers suggest McNamara may be one of them. When the ground gets heavy and half the field struggles to handle it, this is a yard that tends to find a way.

The most regular jockey in the operation is Calum Hogan, who has partnered McNamara horses to 4 wins from 64 rides together. A win rate of 6% — roughly 1 in every 16 — is modest, but the sheer number of rides tells you this is an established working relationship rather than a casual arrangement. These two have clearly put the time in together, and that kind of familiarity matters in a sport where communication between trainer and jockey shapes race-day decisions.

The one area worth watching is a slight dip in form. Last year the yard was winning at 13% — closer to 1 in every 8 — and this season that has slipped to 10%. A three-point drop is not a crisis, but it is a trend to keep an eye on. With 79 career winners already banked and a clear advantage in wet conditions, there is every reason to think this is a wobble rather than a warning sign. A trainer who wins at nearly 1 in 5 when the mud flies is always going to have days worth following.