Riaan

His record on wet or muddy ground is where things get genuinely interesting. On that surface, he has won 2 of just 4 races — a 50% win rate that stands in sharp contrast to his overall figures. Half his wins from a quarter of his races, simply because the ground suits him. That is not a coincidence; it is a pattern worth knowing about.

His most recent win came at Sligo in October 2025, a performance his jockey Danny Gilligan described in straightforward terms: a small field, a sensible pace, and a horse who picked up well jumping the last fence and probably wasn't being asked hard questions once he hit the front. It was the kind of race that suited him perfectly — unhurried, uncrowded, and on ground he likes. Gordon Elliott, who trains Riaan at his yard in Longwood, Co Meath, has been open about his affection for the horse, and that Sligo win clearly meant something to him. He has since suggested there could be a good race at one of the spring festivals waiting for Riaan, specifically in a competitive chase.

The one area where Riaan has yet to deliver is at the very top level. In three races at Class 1 — the highest grade in the sport — he has not won. That is not a disgrace; Class 1 races are the hardest in Britain and Ireland, and most horses never get near one. But it does suggest that, for now at least, Riaan is at his best when the conditions are right and the opposition is not quite elite. Elliott's yard has sent out 209 winners already this season, so Riaan is one part of a very big operation — but clearly one the trainer thinks about with some fondness. Danny Gilligan has partnered him 8 times and won once together, and that partnership looks likely to continue as the spring targets come into view.