What makes the current run interesting is how long it has stretched. Good Deal hasn't won in six races since that Fairyhouse success, and the recent form figures — 3-4-3-5-7-6 — tell their own story. There's plenty of placing in there, which means this is not a horse that runs badly or gives up. It keeps showing up in the frame, finishing third twice in its last six outings. But there's a gap between being competitive and actually winning, and Good Deal has been sitting in that gap for over 16 months now.
The partnership with jockey E Walsh is worth noting, though not for encouraging reasons. Walsh has ridden Good Deal six times without a win between them — 0 from 6 — which is a long run for a combination that hasn't quite clicked. That said, Good Deal's sole win also didn't come through this partnership, so the question of what conditions bring out the best in this horse is still a little open.
Patrick Magee trains out of Shercock in County Cavan, and the yard has sent out 8 winners this season, which shows there is form in the camp. Good Deal raced just yesterday, so it is clearly being kept busy and the team believe there is another win in the horse somewhere. Whether that moment arrives soon is another matter — but for a horse that has shown it can win at Fairyhouse, the appetite to keep running suggests nobody has given up on finding the right opportunity.
| Course | Races | Results | Last visited | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fairyhouse Galloping |
5 | 1 win, 1 second, 3 other | 1 Jan | 20% |
| Navan Galloping |
3 | 2 thirds, 1 other | 8 Feb | 0% |
| Leopardstown Galloping |
1 | 1 other | 1 Feb | 0% |
| Wexford Sharp |
1 | 1 other | 17 Mar | 0% |
| Bellewstown Sharp |
1 | 1 third | 11 Apr | 0% |