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Norwalk Havoc

There is a horse in Ireland right now who turns into a completely different animal the moment the skies open. Norwalk Havoc, a five-year-old trained by Mrs John Harrington at her yard in Moone, Co Kildare, has won 4 races from 16 — a solid 25% win rate, or roughly 1 in every 4 — but drill into those numbers and a clear picture emerges. On wet, muddy ground, he has won 3 races from just 5 attempts. That is a 60% win rate, and in horse racing terms, that borders on extraordinary. He does not just prefer soft conditions — he needs them, and when he gets them, he is a horse transformed.Based on TrackLab's AI analysis
Quick Facts
Age
5 years old
Sex
Gelding
Colour
Chestnut
Father
Showcasing
Mother
Light Of Joy
Owner
Flaxman Stables Ireland Ltd
Rating
99

📊 Key Numbers

Career statistics for this horse
16
Career races
4
Wins
25%
Win rate
avg ~10%
56.2%
Place rate (top 3)
avg ~30%
1 days
Since last race

🔍 Full Analysis

TrackLab's AI-generated assessment based on career data and recent form
TrackLab's Detailed Breakdown
Auto-Generated

The place he loves most is Leopardstown, the prestigious south Dublin track that hosts some of Ireland's biggest races. Three wins from five visits there makes him a genuine course specialist, and it is no coincidence that his best performances have tended to come when the two things he loves — that track and wet ground — arrive together. His trainer, Jessica Harrington, was blunt about it after his most recent Leopardstown win in October 2025: it was the first time all year he had got the ground he needed, and jockey Seamie Heffernan reported that he simply kept finding more the further they went.

That detail matters, because Harrington believes there is a bigger version of Norwalk Havoc still emerging. She has spoken about stepping him up to a mile and a quarter this season, having already won a Listed race — one of the higher-tier races in Ireland — over a mile at Leopardstown. A Listed race is not a championship event, but it is a significant level above everyday racing, and winning one at three years old is a proper achievement. The move to a longer distance, combined with his apparent love of galloping through mud, could open doors to some serious prizes. Rome has even been mentioned as a target.

His regular partner in the saddle is Shane Foley, who has ridden him in 13 of his 16 races and shares 3 of those 4 wins. Foley has been candid too — after a run at Gowran Park he admitted he had to commit earlier than he wanted and felt the horse would be better served in a stronger race. That is an honest assessment, and it hints at a horse whose talent may still be outgrowing the opportunities he has been given. With 51 winners already on the board for the yard this season, Norwalk Havoc is operating within a team in fine form. Now he just needs rain.

Strengths & Risks

What the data says works for and against this horse
✓ What works in their favour
Excellent record on heavy ground: 3 wins from 5 starts (60%)
Course specialist at Leopardstown: 3 wins from 5 starts (60%)
⚠ What to watch out for
Poor record on good ground: 0 wins from 3 starts
Poor record on yielding ground: 0 wins from 3 starts
Yet to win at The Curragh in 6 attempts
Struggles on RH Galloping tracks: 0 wins from 7 starts

🎯 Where This Horse Thrives

Performance broken down by ground, distance, class, and track type
🌧 Ground Conditions
Heavy (very wet)
Loves
Soft (muddy)
Good to yielding (mild give)
Unknown
Soft to heavy (wet)
Unknown
Good (firm-ish)
Avoids
Yielding (slightly soft)
Avoids
📏 Race Distance
1M1F – 1M2F
5F – 6½F
Unknown
7F – 1M
Unknown
1M3F – 1M4F
Unknown
🏅 Competition Level
Class 2 (high-level)
Unknown
🏟 Track Shape
Left-handed, long straights
Loves
Right-handed, tight
Unknown
Right-handed, hilly
Unknown
Left-handed, tight turns
Unknown
Right-handed, long straights
Avoids

📅 Recent Runs

The last 10 races, most recent first
15 Apr
3rd
Leopardstown
1m1f – 1m2f · Yielding · 12 runners
3 Apr
DNF
The Curragh
1m3f – 1m4f · Soft_To_Heavy · 20 runners
15 Mar
7th
The Curragh
1m1f – 1m2f · Heavy · 26 runners
19 Oct
🏆 Won
Leopardstown
1m1f – 1m2f · Heavy · 10 runners
23 Sep
2nd
Listowel
1m1f – 1m2f · Heavy · 8 runners
29 Jul
10th
Galway
1m1f – 1m2f · Yielding · 14 runners
12 Jun
6th
Leopardstown
7f – 1m · Good · 13 runners
20 Oct
🏆 Won
Leopardstown
1m1f – 1m2f · Heavy · 10 runners
28 Sep
9th
Newmarket
1m1f – 1m2f · Soft · 37 runners
30 Jul
2nd
Galway
1m1f – 1m2f · Yielding · 21 runners

🏇 Jockey Partnerships

Every jockey who has ridden this horse, sorted by rides together
Shane Foley Current Jockey
23.1%
Win rate
3/13
Won / Rode
100%
Win rate
1/1
Won / Rode
0%
Win rate
0/1
Won / Rode

🏟 Track Record

Win rate at each course this horse has visited
CourseRacesResultsLast visitedWin rate
The Curragh
Galloping
6 1 second, 5 other 3 Apr 0%
Leopardstown
Galloping
5 3 wins, 1 third, 1 other 15 Apr 60%
Galway
Tight
2 1 second, 1 other 29 Jul 0%
Gowran Park
Undulating
1 1 win 23 Apr 100%
Newmarket
Galloping
1 1 other 28 Sep 0%
Listowel
Sharp
1 1 second 23 Sep 0%