Butty O Brien

Navan is where Butty O Brien has made its name. Two wins from 9 races at the track means it wins roughly 1 in every 4 races it runs there, comfortably ahead of its overall record. When a horse consistently runs better at one particular venue, it usually comes down to the layout, the ground, or simply familiarity — whatever the reason, Butty O Brien clearly feels at home at Navan, and that's the kind of detail worth keeping an eye on.

The partnership with jockey E Walsh is the other thread worth following. Together they've won 3 races from 17, an 18% win rate — roughly 1 in every 6 rides — which is noticeably better than Butty O Brien's overall average. That's not a coincidence. A jockey who knows a horse's tendencies, when to hold it back and when to ask the question, can make a real difference, and the numbers here suggest Walsh has figured something out.

Trained by Patrick Magee out of Shercock in Co Cavan, Butty O Brien is part of a yard that has sent out 8 winners this season — a healthy tally that suggests things are going well in the stable. Magee's operation is clearly in form, and Butty O Brien fits that picture: the horse won as recently as 5 weeks ago at Wexford on 10 April 2026, and raced again just yesterday. Recent form reads 4-1-3-4-8-5 — a second place in the mix, a couple of thirds and fourths, and that recent win. This is a horse that has been running consistently and finishing in the frame more often than not.

At 10 years old, Butty O Brien isn't getting any younger, but there's no sign of it slowing down. Active, winning, and with a clear preference for Navan, it remains one to watch whenever it lines up there.