That Punchestown win is now 18 months in the rear-view mirror, and the last six races have produced nothing — a sequence that includes a couple of pulled-up efforts alongside finishes of 15th and 9th. Raced just yesterday, Sonny May is clearly still being kept busy, but the current form figures make for uncomfortable reading. At nine, horses tend to be fairly well-known quantities, and right now this one is telling you it is finding things difficult.
The most interesting relationship in his story is with jockey Sean O'Keeffe, who has been aboard for 12 of those 18 races and is responsible for both wins — meaning every time Sonny May has won, O'Keeffe has been in the saddle. That works out at 2 wins from 12 rides together, or roughly 1 in 6, which is a noticeably better return than the overall career record suggests. Whether that reflects genuine chemistry or simply timing is hard to say, but it is the kind of detail that tends to keep a partnership together.
The honest summary is that Sonny May had a bright fortnight in late 2024 and has not been able to build on it. Still racing, still being placed occasionally, but the wins feel further away than they did 18 months ago.
| Course | Races | Results | Last visited | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Punchestown Galloping |
7 | 1 win, 6 other | 1 May | 14.3% |
| Naas Galloping |
3 | 1 third, 2 other | 3 Apr | 0% |
| Gowran Park Undulating |
2 | 1 win, 1 other | 9 Nov | 50% |
| Fairyhouse Galloping |
2 | 2 other | 15 Jan | 0% |
| Clonmel Sharp |
2 | 2 other | 14 May | 0% |
| Leopardstown Galloping |
1 | 1 other | 29 Dec | 0% |
| Limerick Galloping |
1 | 1 other | 29 Dec | 0% |