That said, there is something worth noting about the partnership with jockey Tom Harney. The pair have raced together nine times, and Harney has piloted the horse to both of its wins—a 22% win rate that is notably better than Donnie Devito's overall figures. This is no coincidence. Harney appears to get more from this horse than most, and the yard might find it worth persisting with that combination. The trainer Ross O'Sullivan's Kilcullen yard has been in decent form this season with 40 winners, so it is not as though the training operation is struggling.
The other useful detail is that Donnie Devito shows a clear preference for normal ground conditions. On fast, dry tracks it has managed 2 wins from 10 races—exactly 20%, or 1 win in 5 starts—which is substantially better than its overall numbers. In contrast, its recent form reads 5-7-3-3-2-3 (fifth, seventh, third, third, second, third), with that last-placed run coming just a day ago. It is still racing and still trying, but barring a sharp improvement in form or a return to those conditions where it runs best, Donnie Devito looks like a horse that may have already shown us its ceiling.
| Course | Races | Results | Last visited | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Galway Tight |
3 | 1 win, 1 third, 1 other | 31 Jul | 33.3% |
| Wexford Sharp |
2 | 1 third, 1 other | 3 Jul | 0% |
| Fairyhouse Galloping |
2 | 1 third, 1 other | 22 Feb | 0% |
| Punchestown Galloping |
1 | 1 win | 8 Jun | 100% |
| Leopardstown Galloping |
1 | 1 other | 1 Feb | 0% |
| Roscommon Sharp |
1 | 1 third | 9 Jun | 0% |
| Cork Galloping |
1 | 1 other | 31 Mar | 0% |
| Thurles Undulating |
1 | 1 third | 27 Nov | 0% |
| Ballinrobe Sharp |
1 | 1 other | 24 Aug | 0% |
| Clonmel Sharp |
1 | 1 second | 2 Oct | 0% |
| Listowel Sharp |
1 | 1 third | 28 Sep | 0% |
| Sligo Sharp |
1 | 1 third | 27 Oct | 0% |
| Kilbeggan Tight |
1 | 1 other | 17 May | 0% |
| Cheltenham Galloping |
1 | 1 third | 26 Oct | 0% |