Finnians Row

Downpatrick is the key to understanding Finnians Row. Two wins from 8 races at that track — meaning the horse wins there 1 in every 4 times it lines up — is the kind of record that makes you pay attention when the entries come out. The first win at the course came back in September 2023, and just this week, on 8 May 2026, Finnians Row went back to Downpatrick and won again. That is not coincidence. Some horses simply suit a particular track — the way it bends, the undulations, the ground — and Downpatrick clearly brings out the best in this one.

Speaking of ground, Finnians Row is at its most dangerous on normal conditions underfoot, with 3 wins from 9 races in those circumstances. That is a win rate of 33%, or roughly 1 in every 3 races — comfortably the best version of this horse. When the track is playing normally, it becomes a genuinely different proposition.

The recent form tells an encouraging story too: a win, two unplaced runs, then a third, a fourth, and another third in the six races before that. Not every outing has gone to plan, but the horse raced just yesterday and remains active and competitive. Regular jockey P J O'Hanlon has been aboard for 12 of those races together without a win, which makes the Downpatrick victory this week all the more interesting — it shows the horse can get the job done. McLoughlin's yard has sent out 10 winners already this season, so this is a stable in decent form, and Finnians Row is doing its part.

At 10 years old, most horses are winding down. Finnians Row just won this week. Sometimes the oldest names on the card are the ones worth watching.