Ottoman Style

The key to Ottoman Style is the ground. On wet, muddy ground he has won 2 from 3 — that's a 67% win rate, a number that would make any punter sit up. There is a version of this horse, in the right conditions, that is genuinely difficult to beat. The problem is that version only shows up when the weather cooperates. On normal or dry ground, the story is quite different, and his recent run of 6 races without a win suggests the stars haven't aligned for a while. His last victory came at Down Royal on St Patrick's Day 2023 — 39 months ago now, which in racing terms is a long time.

When he has won, jockey Thomas Reilly put it best after an early career victory at Downpatrick: "All he does is stay galloping." That stamina, that relentless quality, was also noted by Conor Maxwell after a win at Down Royal — "when I asked him he lengthened," which is exactly what you want to hear about a stayer. Maxwell has ridden him 5 times and won twice, a 40% win rate together that suggests a real understanding between horse and rider.

Trainer Dermot McLoughlin, whose yard in County Meath has sent out 10 winners already this season, has always believed in Ottoman Style's ceiling. He noted early on that the horse is a half-brother to Brahma Bull, a highly-rated chaser, and that pedigree connection was never far from mind. At his current level, Class 4, he has yet to win from 3 attempts — and his recent form of a fourth place as his best finish in the last six runs is modest. But Ottoman Style raced just yesterday, so he is still very much active, and for a horse who transforms on wet ground, a soaking forecast could change the conversation quickly.