What is slightly more encouraging is the direction of travel. Reading the recent form backwards, Carthusian has gone from finishing fourth and third in the middle of the sequence to picking up a second place most recently, suggesting the penny may gradually be dropping. A second is the closest thing to a win without actually being one, and it at least tells you the horse is competitive at some level — it is just not yet finding that extra gear when it counts.
The training operation behind Carthusian is no small outfit. Mrs John Harrington, based at Moone in County Kildare, has sent out 54 winners already this season — a genuinely productive yard that clearly knows how to get horses ready to perform. When a trainer of that calibre keeps running a horse, it usually means they see something worth developing. Carthusian raced just yesterday, which suggests the team are keeping it busy and active, either trying to find the right opportunity or simply keeping it in a rhythm while they wait for things to click.
The honest summary is that Carthusian is a work in progress. No wins yet, but trained by someone with a strong record of producing results, and showing just enough improvement to keep things interesting.
| Course | Races | Results | Last visited | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Curragh Galloping |
2 | 2 other | 16 Oct | 0% |
| Navan Galloping |
1 | 1 second | 17 May | 0% |
| Leopardstown Galloping |
1 | 1 other | 19 Jun | 0% |
| Dundalk Galloping |
1 | 1 third | 12 Jul | 0% |
| Ballinrobe Sharp |
1 | 1 other | 8 May | 0% |