Snellen

The highlight of Snellen's career so far is hard to top: a Class 1 victory at Ascot in June 2023, which is as prestigious as British racing gets. To win at that level, at that track, is the kind of result that defines a career. What makes it more striking is that it came just ten days after a first career win at Limerick — suggesting a horse that, once it clicked, clicked fast.

Trainer Gavin Cromwell, based at Navan in County Meath, is having a productive season with 97 winners already on the board, and Snellen fits the profile of exactly the kind of horse a well-run yard builds quietly. Jockey Gary Carroll has been the regular partner, riding in 14 of Snellen's 16 races and winning 4 of them — that is a win rate of roughly 1 in every 3.5 rides together, which reflects a genuine partnership rather than a revolving door of riders.

The one thing that really brings out the best in Snellen is fast, dry ground. On those conditions, the record reads 3 wins from just 5 races — that is 60%, or winning 3 in every 5, which is a remarkable conversion rate by any measure. When the ground dries out, this horse becomes a different proposition entirely. Keep an eye on the weather forecast.

Most recently, Snellen won at Leopardstown in July 2025, and with a race just yesterday, the horse is clearly fit and firing. The latest form reads 3-6-1-2-3-2, which translates to a horse running consistently near the top of the field — a sixth-place finish stands out as the only real blip across those six runs. Still only five, still active, and with a Class 1 win already on the CV, Snellen is the kind of horse that quietly demands respect every time the gates open.