The recent form makes for curious reading. In the last six races, Mapa has finished 5th, 2nd, 4th, 6th, 10th, and most recently 3rd — read in order, that is a horse that ran a really encouraging second, then went quiet for a spell, and has started to find its feet again at the business end. Racing just one day ago and posting a third-place finish suggests Mapa is in reasonable shape right now, and that second place earlier in the sequence hints there is a race to be won somewhere if the pieces fall right.
Robbie Colgan has been the regular partner throughout, sitting aboard for 12 of those 19 races without a win between them. That kind of long-running partnership without a breakthrough can be a test of patience for everyone involved, but it also means the pair know each other well — and sometimes that familiarity is exactly what tips a close finish the right way.
Mapa is trained by Ms Sheila Lavery at her yard in Summerhill, County Meath, a well-established base in the heart of Irish racing country. The yard has sent out three winners already this season, so there is form in the camp. Whether Mapa can add to that tally remains the question — but with the horse racing just yesterday and finishing in the placings, the team will not be giving up on finding the right opportunity anytime soon.
| Course | Races | Results | Last visited | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dundalk Galloping |
4 | 1 second, 3 other | 30 Jan | 0% |
| Naas Galloping |
3 | 1 third, 2 other | 5 Aug | 0% |
| Limerick Galloping |
3 | 3 other | 21 Jun | 0% |
| The Curragh Galloping |
3 | 3 other | 21 Oct | 0% |
| Cork Galloping |
2 | 2 other | 30 Sep | 0% |
| Leopardstown Galloping |
2 | 2 other | 5 Jun | 0% |
| Roscommon Sharp |
1 | 1 third | 18 May | 0% |
| Clonmel Sharp |
1 | 1 other | 5 Sep | 0% |