Pahlavi

That single win finally arrived at Downpatrick on 25 August 2025, and at nine years old, it was a long time coming. For context, most racehorses reach their peak in their mid-to-late teens in human terms — so this was not a young horse breaking through, but a seasoned campaigner finally getting his moment. Whether the track suited him, the competition was kinder, or everything just clicked on the day, Downpatrick is the place where Pahlavi wrote his name in the record books, however modestly.

His regular partner in the saddle is Paddy Hanlon, who has ridden him in 10 of his 29 races and was aboard for that Downpatrick win. Together they win 1 in every 10 races — a 10% rate — which is actually meaningfully higher than Pahlavi's overall career average. That is not a coincidence. There is clearly some familiarity and understanding between horse and rider that makes a difference. Both carry the Hanlon name, and the trainer — John Joseph Hanlon, based at Bagenalstown in County Carlow — has had a productive season with 11 winners sent out from his yard. Pahlavi is far from his star performer, but he is part of a stable that clearly knows what it is doing.

Recent form gives a little encouragement. Looking at his last six races — from most recent backwards: a fall or unseated rider, then fifth, eighth, third, and that winning run at Downpatrick, followed by a fifth before that — the picture is mixed. The win sits right in the middle of a series of ordinary efforts, and the most recent outing was a rough one. But he raced just one day ago, which means he is very much in active training and clearly still being campaigned with purpose. At nine, with one career win and a yard behind him that is in form, he remains a horse who could yet add to his tally on the right day.