Starzov

His last win came at Cork on 7 January 2023, nearly four years ago now. That makes it a very long drought, though he has stayed in work and continues to race regularly — he was out just a day ago. His recent form shows a horse who is not winning anymore: his last six runs read 7, blank, blank, blank, 7, and 11th place. The blanks mean he failed to finish or didn't place in those races. On the face of it, this looks like a horse simply past his best.

But there is one detail that makes Starzov worth watching. Put him on wet or muddy ground, and something clicks. On those conditions, he has won 2 of his 6 races — a 33 per cent win rate that is three times better than his overall record. That is a real edge. When Starzov has P J O'Hanlon in the saddle, things improve too: the pair have won 1 of 5 races together, a 20 per cent rate that is well above his normal standard. The trainer, P J Rothwell, based at Tinahely in County Wicklow, has sent out 35 winners already this season, suggesting a yard in decent form. Put those elements together — wet ground, the right jockey, a trainer who knows how to win — and Starzov becomes a name worth remembering for the small-race cards, where one good day can still make all the difference.